By Jake Donovan
A yearlong break while you’re undefeated and at or near your fighting prime isn’t the best way to proceed with your boxing career unless absolutely necessary. More often than not, such an extended absence is forced upon the fight, be it due to injuries, managerial, promotional or even personal issues, or what have you.
For undefeated featherweight contender Maureen Shea, going 370 days between fights was a necessity for her career, as well as her life.
No drama, no legal battles or nagging injuries that required time to heal. It was just something that needed to be done, for the sake of Moe remaining Moe.
“I feel like the break was good for me; it came at a perfect time,” insists Shea (12-0-1 NC, 6KO). “I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring.”
That day comes on September 10, when she headlines a full night of action out of Yonkers, New York, not too far from her Bronx hometown. Who her opponent will be has yet to be determined, though hardly a unique circumstance. “I almost never know who I’m fighting until a few days before,” Shea admits. “I put my trust in my team, and everything works out.”
It’s worked well to date, with Shea rapidly becoming one of the more established female boxers in the world today. But despite the in-ring success and celebrity status she’s enjoyed over the past three or so years as a pro fighter, the need arose to step away from the squared circle to re-center and reload.
“I was in Los Angles, visitng my grandmother, who is 87 years old, as well as my aunt,” said Shea of her time away from the ring. “It was a break that I needed, though of course I worked my way back into the gym and into my boxing routine.”
While staying in shape is never an issue for Shea, getting back into boxing shape was essential before resuming her career. That battle begins with strength and conditioning, an art she never appreciated until meeting renowned fitness guru Robert Ferguson.
“Coming back into boxing training after three months was great. More fighters need to focus more on nutrition. I didn’t realize how much of a factor it was until I met Robert Ferguson.
“Making weight isn’t a struggle. Twice in my life I went to a higher weight, but my body is the type where I gain if I take off from training, but I lose it fast – but normally.”
It also helps to live a healthy lifestyle even – in fact, especially – in between fights.
Shea has that part covered.
As has been well documented in the past, the Bronx bomber of Mexican and Irish descent is a card-carrying vegan. She’s often referred to as a vegetarian, but it’s not just about avoiding anything that previously had a heartbeat. Nor is it just a diet limited to training camp routine.
“It’s the way I live and it works for me,” says Shea, who insists that he’s not only grown spiritually, but also feels stronger since changing up lifestyles. “People think you can’t be a vegan and be strong. But I feel stronger now than when I first began boxing.”
That journey began as a 19-year old looking to find herself while surviving in the Boogie Down. At the time, it was merely means to keep her mind off of a troubled home life that included a relationship with an abusive and unfaithful boyfriend.
What it would become was the beginning of life as she knows it today. Soon removed from the fold was the aforementioned chap who never showed her an ounce of respect. In his place was her new love – the sweet science.
It was also in that same Omni Fitness gym where a new man entered her life, though in a relationship that’s always been strictly business - Luigi Olcese, her first trainer who would eventually become – and still remains – her manager.
It didn’t take long for Shea and Olcese to click; not so much for the other fighters who shared gym space. Respect will always need to be earned when you’re the female in the gym. Shea knew she gained it the moment male fighters stopped flirting with her and instead recognized her for what she is – a fighter. Not just a female fighter, but a fighter.
It’s the separation of the two that Shea believes leads to confusion, as well as a lack of respect for the sport.
“I’m a boxer, not just a female boxer,” Shea has always insisted. “It’s one word. There’s no feminine or masculine about it.”
Certainly not when your shoulder is tapped to next enter the ring, regardless of who awaits in the opposite corner. Need proof that “Moe” hasn’t been in the ring with all types while honing her craft? Take a look at the September 10 lineup and see if you can find the common thread.
Give up? Let Shea help you out with the startling revelation.
“What’s funny about this card – I’ve been in the ring with every single fighter on the undercard,” she reveals of the all-male supporting cast. “I’ve been close to all of them. Here I am a female, and I’ve worked with all of them. It trips me out a little bit.”
Though perhaps not as much as when she received what had to be considered at the time to be the opportunity of a lifetime.
Hillary Swank was already an Academy-Award winning actress prior to the first casting call for “Million Dollar Baby.” Upon landing the role, it was off Brooklyn she went to prepare for authenticity purposes. Awaiting her at the famed Gleason’s Gym were two people; trainer Hector Rocha, and the young amateur he recommended for sparring – Maureen Shea.
The rest is history – though it was just the beginning for Shea, who turned pro five months after Swank would nab her second Oscar for Best Lead Actress in a major motion picture.
The tagline as movie-star sparring partner came with many of her early bouts. Shea expected it to be the case, but never solely depend on the extra publicity to carry her name. Twelve wins and plenty of headlines in a hard-to-please industry supports that claim.
“I’ve definitely established myself as more than Hillary Swank’s sparring partner,” Shea correctly surmises. “Now that they know I can fight, my career has taken off.”
It almost came to a crashing halt in May 2006, when Shea found herself on the canvas and on the wrong side of a controversial split decision against journeyman Kim Colbert. What was initially announced as the first loss of her career was changed to a no-contest after Colbert failed her post-fight drug test.
A fighter through and through, Shea didn’t pay it any mind, rattling of seven straight wins in a span of just 14 months. Following a 2nd round knockout of Jessica Mohs, Shea decided to take what she insists was a much-needed rest from the sport.
That’s not to say her name fell from the headlines. Among other notable achievements, Shea received a nomination for PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian, which she described as an experience like no other.
“For me, it’s almost surreal to see my name with Leona Lewis, Vanessa Williams, Alicia Silverstone and other celebrities. It brings the athlete into that space, which made me proud because it’s my lifestyle.”
It also made her an unofficial ambassador of the sport, a position in which she’s tried to use to help educate people on what it has to offer. More important, that there’s more to the game than just the perceived novelty act.
“I don’t pick the title (of boxing ambassador), I just believe that what’s meant to be is what’s meant to be. But what bothers me is when they try to limit my accomplishments to women’s boxing. I hate that separation – the people in the sport need to help it along.”
Shea certainly practices what she preaches. Though much of her time needs to be set aside for her daily routine, she’s never too busy to respond to fan mail, be it inquiries or general comments. But it’s from those looking to make a career out of the sport that especially touches her heart.
“I get contacted a lot from girls starting out in the amateurs. I’m glad that people feel they can contact me respect me enough to take my advice. It’s still surprising, though also humbling, that people view me in that light.”
It’s a clear case of the every day working man and woman connecting with Shea, who refuses to hide behind her newfound fame in or out of the ring. More so on the latter, where she’s no longer Maureen Shea the fighter, but just Maureen or Moe.
“I separate my life from boxing; I know how to balance the two. I’m a boxer in Brooklyn, but once I cross the FDR (Drive, in Manhattan) and head back to my borough (the Bronx), it’s back to my life. It’s extremely important for athletes to leave their job at the office.”
Shea manages the balancing act even when on the clock. A normal training day for the undefeated featherweight consists of 7-8 miles of running, 8-12 rounds of sparring, jumping rope, shadow boxing and working the heavy bag. But it’s those first two miles in the morning that starts her day – spiritually more than physically.
“My morning run is for me; everything else is for boxing.”
While boxing is her life right now, she plans to parlay her experience into careers in other fields once she’s done trading leather from bell to bell – whenever that day shall come.
“I don’t have a timetable for how long I’ll fight – my plan is to do it until I accomplish my goals. From there, I’d love to do broadcasting. I’ve done work for Irish Ropes. I’ve commentated some of the amateur shows on MSG Network and I have my talk show on BronxNet. I’d like to get in that field, but after I’ve met my goals in the ring.”
The next step in that journey takes place next week in Yonkers. The yearlong break was for Maureen Shea; the homecoming is for those who mean most to her.
“My fans have always been so important, they’ve stuck through everything. I love to stay connected. It’s been a while since I fought so close to home, and that means a lot to me.”
Though not as much as what ignites the flame in the love affair between fighter and fans.
“I’ve come this far by staying true to myself and keeping my character. That'll never change.”