Rodger Ponfil Jr. started boxing at age 15, and in his first year won the Wisconsin State Junior Olympic Championship. In 1977 at age 16 he won a National Indian Activities Association
(NIAA) championship at Carson City, NV.

The following year he won the Wisconsin State AAU Title in the 112 lbs. Open Division. Also in 1978 he won the NIAA 112 lbs. National Title defeating Orvis Flying Horse of OK.

After the 1978 NIAA title bout he flew to Biloxi, MS, and won four bouts in the National AAU championship then lost a disputed decision to Mike Felde of Missoula, MT.

During the tournament Rodger defeated Jerome Coffee, the defending 112 lbs. champion and number one ranked boxer in the country. He also defeated Greg Richardson, a national Golden Gloves and AAU champion.

Rodger was named to the All American Team and was ranked #2 in the nation in his weight division.

While emerging as a national class boxer, the International Selection Committee assigned him to the 1978-79 USA International Team that competed against European, South American, African, and Asian teams in a series of televised bouts.