Speed and quickness. That's what Antone Aku thrives on as a boxer. That, and anger.

It has helped Aku, a senior at the U.S. Naval Academy, capture two National Collegiate Boxing Association titles. Outside the ring, though, he is a quiet, mild-mannered Midshipman.

The 2005 graduate of Campbell from 'Ewa Beach grew up a foster child since the age of 2, when his parents became victims of the ice epidemic.

"That's where my anger originated from. I grew up in Wai'anae, so I was always a rugged kid," said Aku, who is majoring in systems engineering with a minor in Japanese. "I was getting into trouble. I guess that's where I get my tenacity, my toughness from."

According to coach Jim McNally, Aku is at his best when he channels his aggression into a fight.

"He likes to build up an anger that you usually don't see in amateur boxing," McNally said. "When he really wants to beat (his opponent), he goes out and takes it to them really hard. When he has that fire, watch out because he's coming to get you."

Said Aku: "I try to bring out that attitude and it just powers me, it gives me energy. When I get hit, I don't even feel it. What he hits me with, I hit him back twice as hard."

But motivation can be hard to find sometimes.

"It's not something that I have (regularly)," Aku said. "I bring it out during a fight. I can't always do it, but when I'm really nervous — usually before my first fight — I bring it out and I just crush people."

Such was the case when Navy visited Air Force Friday. Aku, who is the defending national champion at 139 pounds, met Air Force junior Bailey Ball, a 2006 graduate of Lahainaluna, and former state wrestling champion.

"I knew he was from Hawai'i, so I knew he had to have been tough," said Aku, who agreed to move up two weight classes for the fight. "He was short and bulky, a strong guy. But, after the first punch, I just knew he was too slow. Maybe for every one punch he threw, I threw 10. That's my advantage, I'm pretty fast ... and I always hit as hard as I can."

Air Force coach Eddie Weichers, protecting his boxer, threw in the towel in the first round.

"He is the best college boxer in the country today," Weichers said of Aku. "I talked to Bailey, asked him if he wanted to try 'em out for size and he said 'hell yeah.' (Aku) hit him with a couple shots to the nose and he started bleeding so I stopped the bout, as a precaution."

Ball decided to make the switch from wrestling after he took a boxing class as a freshman at the academy.

"I've love it so far, he said. "It's been great."

As for fighting Aku: "It was a definitely a good experience to see the intensity of a national champion and what I need to do to reach that level."

For Aku, who hopes to one day become a Navy SEAL, his priorities are clear despite his accolades.

"School is first for me, boxing is part time," he said. "But, as for boxing, my goals ... number one, don't lose to Army and number two, don't lose to Air Force ... and hopefully get back to nationals."

McNally believes Aku should win his third NCBA title come April's nationals. But his success has not come without sacrifice.

"Without a doubt he's probably one of the hardest workers in the gym," McNally said. "He's literally the first guy in the gym and the last guy out. There are times when I have to tell him to go home, study, shower, get some rest. He just trains too hard sometimes, but that's how strong his desire to win is."