"It used to be great," he says. "Harvard versus Yale, Harvard and Dartmouth, the Ivy League, back when it was only college men. But college boxing just died out."

If there is any doubt about just how big a legend Rawson is in the boxing community, the 300 person birthday bash that the USA Boxing New England commission threw in his honor last November should help alleviate it. Guests included not only the US Marine Corps boxing team but top amateur fighters from the New England area as well.

Rawson sees a bright future for the sport he has participated in for the last 80 years, but maintains that it could be improved by cutting down the number of divisions available to compete in.

"Boxing is still a great sport, if it's handled correctly under the rules and regulations that are good for it," he says. "It's not right for a group of men to say that they're going to have a different championship, which several promoters have done."

And what is his opinion about the pugilist formerly known as Mike Tyson?

"I would suspend him but tell him he can fight again for the championship only if he donates his purse to boxing charities."

Tommy Rawson - a man, a myth, and a legend. So next time you're walking upstairs at the MAC to ride a bike or play some basketball, just keep in mind that his office door is always open. He's never short of stories and you just might find yourself putting on a pair gloves if you stay long enough.