Is NJ the Future of Boxing?

Note: For those of you unfamiliar with the fight game, you can stop reading now, and rejoin me next time. I’m about to go a lil’ deeper into boxing than you may care about. There’s also this space-time continuum thing as I flip back and forth between two events involving the same people, so stick with me if you can.

Yesterday, I attended the press conference at Global Boxing Gym, for the upcoming Tomasz Adamek versus Michael Grant fight, taking place Saturday, August 21 at the Prudential Center, when I ran into NABF title holder, Maureen Shea.

I had originally met the female boxer from the Bronx at another Global Boxing press conference a few weeks prior. At that time, she told me that she had an upcoming fight in Saratoga Springs, NY.

I joked that if she was really a boxer she needed to (and I quote) “knock a b*tch out” for me.

FYI. Maureen stopped Liliana Martinez at 1:18 in the 3rd with a vicious left hook to the body. Go Moe!

Maureen was one of the many people I met at Main Event‘s press conference announcing the (then) upcoming fight between Zab Judah and Jose Armanda Santa Cruz.

I was the guest of Michael Havaien, Global Boxing’s President and resident speed and agility trainer.

As I sat back, listening to Kathy Duva announce the various boxers, trainers and managers on the dais, I was amazed that boxing had so firmly taken root in New Jersey – in my backyard, and I (like most of us) had been totally unaware.

You (like me) probably have never heard of Global Boxing and don’t know who Maureen Shea is.

To be honest, when it comes to female boxing, all I know is Laila Ali.

But I have three words for you: Million Dollar Baby.

Yes. The Academy award winning film featuring Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Hilary Swank.

Apparently, Maureen was Hillary Swank’s trainer for the movie, and she converted the actress into a believable boxer in a few months (which is why most people call her ‘The Real Million Dollar Baby’ – but I digress).

Anyway, in addition to being a guest at the press conference, Maureen also (kinda) trains at Global Boxing, and we talked about the work she was putting in for her (then) upcoming title bout.

As we talked, I learned that she had also filmed an episode of MTV’s Made, where she took a high school ballet dancer and made her tough.

She is also an on-air jock, providing fight commentary on Breathe Boxing Radio.

Considering everything I heard, I was amazed that I had never heard of her.

But I learned quite a few things that day.

For example, Global Boxing (as quite is kept) is becoming a force to be reckoned with.

What didn’t exist over six months ago, is now one of the largest professional boxing and mixed martial arts training facilities in the tri-state area.

Global Boxing’s founder, Mariusz Kolodziej (‘MK’ to his boxing friends) is positioning himself as the premier matchmaker, generating both main events and undercards for his fighters.

At yesterday’s pre-fight conference, I was impressed a the throngs of people packing the room, and Maureen’s quiet acceptance of her new title holder status.

As we talked about Brand Shea (sounds good right? I just made that up) and her plans for the future, she was repeatedly asked to sign autographs or take pictures with fans.

Women, who approached her, complimented her looks. She was rocking a dress by Bebe and a set of pink heels by Sergio Rossi.

And the fellas (and fellow fighters), offered their congratulations.

By the time I left, I vowed to do two things: 1. Get up on my boxing; and 2. let the world know that NJ is about to become the new boxing mecca.

I’d suggest you stay tuned, and see what else comes out of Global Boxing and Maureen Shea.