Some of the best collegiate boxers in the Northeast will battle it out at White Building this weekend in the Northeast Regional Boxing Championships.

They will be competing for the right to represent the region in the National Championships, which will be held at the U.S. Air Force Academy on April 7-8. Only the top boxer at each weight class will advance to nationals.

Several All-Americans from last year will be competing in the event, which begins at 7 p.m. tonight.

Among those competing are two national champions and two national runners-up. Three of those All-Americans are from Penn State: sophomore Kelly Cordes at 112 pounds; sophomore Craig Bernier, a national runner-up last year at 165 and sophomore Matt Osborne at 180.

"I would like to see five entries for nationals (this year)," student coach Craig Harptser said.

Last season the team sent four boxers to nationals.

If the squad is able to reach Harpster's vision, it will have an excellent chance of improving on its fifth-place finish of a year ago.

To do that, however, the club will need strong performances this weekend. Harpster said he expects Cordes, Bernier, Osborne, senior Phil Ray, sophomore Tony Draus and freshman Derek Sierra will have the best opportunity of advancing.

Junior 119-pounder Jack Ross will be trying to avenge an earlier split decision loss to Lock Haven's Paul Dooris, a national champion last year. The loss, which was a controversial one, came in Ross's second match ever. Harpster said Ross has improved since then, so an upset is possible.

Club President Jim Veverka, a junior, will have his hands full at 156 with Army's Tony Fletcher, a two-time regional champ and former national champ.

In what Harpster called the feature match, Bernier will face Lock Haven's Manny Rose, a national runner-up last year at 172. Bernier will be looking to avenge a loss to Rose in their previous meeting this year.

"It's too bad both of us have to be at the same weight," Bernier said. "I just covered up (during our last fight). I more or less wanted to just not get knocked out."

Senior Dan Bradley will be competing at 132, if he is able to make weight. If he does he will be facing Lock Haven's Brad Klein, a two-time regional and national champ.

Freshman Dave Wolfe at 190 will face Lock Haven's Joe Salluzo, a two-time All-American.

Veverka and Ray won the right to compete at their weight classes in box-offs against teammates. Harpster and Veverka both said this is the first year the team has had enough depth to hold box-offs. Harpster cited senior John Dixon, at 156, as someone who narrowly missed going to regionals.

The boxing team, as a club sport, receives little financial support from the University, so the team is hoping for a good turnout today and tomorrow. Harpster said the team has purchased five tickets to nationals, but will need a good turnout in order to be able to send that many people.

The semifinals begin at 7 p.m. tonight and the finals are set for 7 p.m. tomorrow. Advance tickets are available and cost $2. Tickets also will be available at the door, where they will cost $3 for adults and $2 for students.