When Hicksville resident Sascha Blasi was 12 years old, his parents signed him up for martial arts school. It just so happened that the school Blasi attended also offered a boxing class, which Blasi quickly - and secretly - began taking.

"There was boxing at the school, so I took both," Blasi said. "My parents didn't know, they thought that I was taking extra martial arts classes, but I would stay after and take boxing."

Now, at 26, Blasi is still boxing and is currently ranked as the number three amateur heavyweight fighter. For the six foot tall, 220-pound boxer, the ultimate goal, however, is to become the world's undisputed heavyweight champion.

About a year ago, Blasi signed a record-breaking contract with the Long Island-based International Sports Marketing Management, making the jump from a regular prize fighter to the world class boxing arena. The contract included a signing bonus of $2.3 million - the largest signing bonus in boxing history to date - an achievement Blasi cites as the most exciting moment thus far in his boxing career.

But all the excitement and glamour of heading towards the title did not happen overnight for Blasi, working hard since those first faithful days 14 years ago. Blasi trained at the Westbury PAL Boxing Gym on Post Avenue from age 12 to 16. During high school, he began splitting his time between Hicksville High School and a New Hampshire prep school on a football and hockey scholarship. After graduation, Blasi began working towards a professional career in boxing, training on Long Island and in New York City for a few years before heading to Gleason's Gym in Garden City, where he still trains today.

For Blasi, a typical day of training consists of 12 to 15 rounds of boxing, weight training, cardio and running. "I train five to six days a week, seven to eight hours a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and five to six hours a day on Tuesday and Thursday," he said. "In the beginning it was the love of the game, where as it is now trophies and medals and the prestige of it all." Blasi added that what also keeps him going is the possibility of becoming a champion. "My ultimate goal is to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, to be fighting guys like John Ruiz and Lenox Louis," he said.

Frank Hunt, who along with his brother, Steve, handles Blasi's career, said boxing rank is determined by three organizations, the World Boxing Council (WBC), the World Boxing Association (WBA) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF), and each one has a top 10 ranking system. "The higher you are to number one, the quicker you will get your shot at the title," said Hunt. "Sascha is going to be cracking the top five in the world in professional ranks. He is tremendously talented and ready to fight for a championship tomorrow but like politics, you have to pay your dues and wait in line."

Blasi currently competes once a month against other boxers in the heavyweight division throughout the country. His boxing accomplishments include winning the Billy McCoy Tournament three years in a row (between 1994 and 1997), and in 1995, he reached the semi-finals of the New York State Golden Gloves Championships. Blasi also won the Presidential Fitness Award, based on high school physical fitness tests, three years in a row.

In addition to training and competing, Blasi also competes in charity events, including the June 18 Ronald McDonald House Celebrity Sports Festival Fundraiser. At the event, Blasi participated in a charity volleyball game to benefit families of September 11, competing with such celebrities as LL Cool J, Shaggy and members of the New York Jets. Of the event, Blasi said, "A lot of people came out and we had a good time."

Blasi also said that what has stuck with him to this day and keeps him inspired are his role models, particularly his grade school teachers and coaches. "None of my role models are boxers," he said. "A lot of them came from grade school, Holy Child. I had some great teachers and coaches who helped me form my beliefs in life and in athletics."

Today, Blasi, who hid his love for boxing from his parents for several years, now has their support. "I hid it from them for a couple of years and I eventually told them after I got my black belt," he said. "They like the sport of boxing, they just wish they weren't watching me I guess. But they do support me."

Gigi Blasi said she and her husband realized their son was taking boxing classes after finding several 'odd' things amongst his gym gear, including jump ropes and boxing glove strings. "We confronted him and he told us we should come see him [compete] and we did," she said. "We weren't thrilled that he was boxing and that he wanted to do it as a career, but after we saw him in the ring a couple of times we realized he wasn't that bad. My husband and I have always been very supportive of our children's dreams and goals [and] we see his love for it."

She added, "He's always been an athletic and a daredevil, but he's gotten so good that we don't see it as dangerous as we thought it would be."

With a great deal of support and talent, Blasi is hopeful that the top of the heavyweight boxing world will soon be in his grasp. "Hopefully in six months or so I will get a title shot," he said. "Hopefully, the next time I talk to you guys, I'll be a world champion."

Ms. Blasi said, "I am very religious and I pray for him all the time. I don't necessarily pray for him to win, but for him to be okay."

A website on Sascha Balshi will be up and running in the next few weeks. For more log onto www.saschablasiboxing.com.