Boxer's growing popularity through the early 1900s prompted a debate over whether he should replace the Badger as Pacific University's mascot. A number of students opposed the idea, believing that the Chinese incense burner failed to represent Pacific's rich history and simply confused the public.
Though Boxer's reign as mascot continued in his absence, he was challenged by a number of contenders, including a badger, an elephant, a lion, and his own clone: "Boxer II".