In 1975, when Hilgers started training at a Y.M.C.A. near here, the place had an abundance of boxers, and he had the most successful junior Olympic boxing team in Wisconsin.

“They were all stars in their school system, and I’ve never had a run of athletes like that since,” Hilgers said.

He estimates that 1,300 boxers have been a part of his club over the years, and 30 of them became state champions. The most famous was Steve Zouski , who went on to post a 31-18 record as a professional. He got in the ring with the former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and George Foreman.

In 1986, Zouski caught Tyson, then 19 and 18-0, on his way up. Zouski was knocked out at 2 minutes 39 seconds of the third round at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. It was the only time he lost by knockout. The next year, he was the first opponent Foreman, then 38, faced after being retired for 10 years.

Foreman’s age didn’t matter: The referee stopped the fight in his favor early in the fourth round at Arco Arena in Sacramento.