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Maureen “Moe” Shea is a 24
year old senior at Iona College and the daughter of a retired NYPD
Detective. She has been training for 4 years and she started her amateur
boxing career with coach Luigi Olcese of New York Boxing Gym. Maureen
initially pursued boxing as a means to channel her energy away from
tremendous difficulties in her personal life.
As Maureen progressed in her
amateur career, Olcese would on occasion bring her to Gleasons to work under
the renowned boxing trainer Hector Roca. Roca has trained the likes of
Arturo Gatti, Hector Camacho Sr., and Michael Olajide.
In October of 2003, Olcese
placed Maureen permanently under the tutelage of Hector Roca. Around
January of 2004, an Oscar winning actress by the name of Hillary Swank came
to Gleasons Gym looking to train with Hector Roca. Swank was hoping to land
the part of a female boxer in a movie which was to be directed by Clint
Eastwood. The movie was Million Dollar Baby.
Two weeks into Swank’s
training, Roca made Maureen the primary sparring partner for Hillary Swank.
Maureen competes in the 125 lbs amateur division and was close to Swank’s
weight. Roca also knew that Maureen had the ability to apply just the right
amount of pressure on Swank. Maureen bonded with Swank that spring and
Swank attended two of Maureen’s NY Golden Glove bouts that year. Maureen
returned the favor when Swank invited her to attend the premiere of Million
Dollar Baby. The two remain friends and now that Swank has won her second
Oscar, Maureen hopes to have a successful year of amateur boxing. Maureen
is currently competing in the 2005 NY Golden Gloves’s 125 lbs division and
intends on competing in Colorado Springs later this month.
On August 26,
2005, at the Westchester County Center, in White Plains, New York, In
her professional debut, Shea, 128, TKO'd Camille
Casson, 124, in 39 seconds of the opening round.
On September 17, 2005, in Greenboro, North Carolina, Shea, 128, stopped
Katherine Applewhite,
131, in the first round by TKO. The bout was set for
four rounds. Shea is now 2-0-0 (2KO).
On October 8, 2005, in
Greensboro, North Carolina, Shea, 134, won a unanimous four round
decision over Darnella Barnes, 134, in Greensboro, NC.
Shea was originally scheduled to box Barnes on September 17 but
Barnes came in much too heavy at that time. Barnes came to
fight and showed tremendous strength as Shea dominated all the
rounds with an onslaught of punches. Barnes never gave up under
tremendous pressure in her professional debut. Maureen Shea's record
now stands at 3-0 with 2 wins coming by KO. World class trainer
Hector Roca was in Shea's corner as she continues to progress.
The card was promoted by Cheryl Nance. |
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