Maureen Shea

Maureen Anne Shea Carranza (born January 11, 1981) is an American professional boxer of Irish and Mexican descent.[1] She held the WBC interim female featherweight title in 2011 and the IFBA super bantamweight title from 2014 to 2015, and challenged once for the WBA female super featherweight title in 2009.[2] She is known as the "Real Million Dollar Baby" because of her work as the main sparring partner for Hilary Swank in her preparation for the 2005 movie, Million Dollar Baby.[3]

Maureen Shea
Maureen Shea, 2014
Statistics
Real nameMaureen Anne Shea Carranza
Nickname(s)The Real Million Dollar Baby
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Reach64 in (163 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born (1981-01-11) January 11, 1981
The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights33
Wins29
Wins by KO13
Losses2
Draws1
No contests1

Early life

Some people call her "The Bronx Bombshell" Some call her "The Real Million Dollar Baby" others Just call her "Moe". With a record of 29-2 (13KO), Maureen was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. Born in 1981, she was raised by a strict Irish father, a now retired NYPD Detective.[4] Maureen's mother, of Mexican heritage, worked in the airline industry and this afforded ample travel to Maureen. Moe spent much of her youth growing up in the Bronx and in the Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico. In the amateurs, Maureen was known and respected for her boxing. First training out of NYBG with Luigi Olcese, she was eventually brought to Gleasons to train with well respected trainer Hector Roca. It was a gradual process in Shea's growth and preparation for the game of professional boxing.[5]

In 2004, when Hilary Swank came looking for Hector Roca to help her get ready for the movie Million Dollar Baby, Roca paired Swank with Maureen Shea. Maureen was Hilary's main sparring partner in preparation for Swank's award-winning role in the movie. When the international media found out that Swank attended all of Maureen's amateur bouts, Maureen was thrust into the spotlight. It was Maureen's boxing, however, that captured the attention.[6]

Professional career

Maureen Shea of the Bronx, New York, is the former IFBA Jr Featherweight World Champion, former NABF Festherweight Champion, former NABA Featherweight Champion and former Interim WBC Featherweight Champion. Shea is one of the top professional female boxers in the world.[7]

WBA Super Featherweight Championship

In February 2009, Maureen lost her first world title attempt to Kina Malpartida. This bout was held at the Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.[8]

Interim WBC Featherweight Championship

On December 12, 2011 Shea beat Colombian Diana Ayala to win the Interim WBC Featherweight Champion.[9] This bout was held at the Estadio Centenario in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico.[10]

NABA Featherweight Champion

On March 15, 2014 Shea beat Nohime Dennison of Albuquerque New Mexico as the Main Event on Top Players Promotions Ice Vs Fire 2 in Oxnard California to win the vacant NABA featherweight title

IFBA Jr Featherweight World Title

On July 11, 2014 Shea tko'd Angel Gladney of South Carolina to win the IFBA Jr Featherweight World Title. Fighting for the second time as the Main Event on Top Players Promotions Ice vs Fire 3, this was a historical fight being the FIRST ever World Title Fight in Ventura County.

Maureen defended her IFBA world title as the co-feature to the Shane Mosely Vs Ricardo Mayorga main event on August 29, 2015 on Pay-Per-View versus Yulihan Luna of Mexico. This bout resulted in a draw and was the first time a female fight was featured on Pay-Per-View in over a decade.

Maureen has fought as a professional at Madison Square Garden three times, under such distinguished promoters such as Top Rank, Star Boxing, and was the first female to fight on Lou Dibella's Broadway Boxing series. Her fights have been televised on Pay Per View, Azteca Television, Telemundo, Madison Square Garden Network, and SNY.[11]

Personal life

She has overcome many obstacles, including being the victim of abuse, to achieve her current success. Of Irish and Mexican descent, Maureen has a large fan base of both ethnicities and is a crowd favorite. She currently lives in Oxnard, California and trains at The Boxing Laboratory, home of Vasyl Lomenchenko.[12]

Maureen is a vegetarian.[13]

Million Dollar Baby

Highly recognized for her work as Hilary Swank's main sparring partner for her award-winning role in "Million Dollar Baby", Maureen has utilized her ring success and become successful in mainstream media.[14]

In 2008, Maureen was nominated by MTV as one of their "2008 Toughest Coaches", for her role in their hour long season opening episode of "Made". In that show, Maureen guided a young lady who had no boxing experience; and in six weeks, prepared her for her first competitive amateur bout with a decision win. Later that year she was also nominated by PETA for their Sexiest Vegetarian award.[15]

Maureen has successfully translated her ring experience to ringside, having worked as a boxing analyst alongside highly respected commentators Al Bernstein, and Rich Marotta, on Top Rank "Latin Fury" PPV. She has also guest commentated on the MSG Network during the 2006 NY Golden Gloves, and currently hosts her own live TV show, "Shea’s Corner" on Bronx Net Television. Shea is passionate and recognized for her work as President of Pandora Promotions, Motivational/Inspirational speaker, journalist (8Countnews.com),TV/radio personality, Boxing Commentator.

Team Shea
  • Advisor : Luigi Olcese
  • Head Trainer : Derik Santos
  • Cutman : Danny Milano/ Carlos Vargas
  • Strength/conditioning : Phil Daru - Asst. Jose Rojas

See also

References
  1. SAMUELS, TANYANIKA. "Boxer Maureen Shea, who trained Hillary Swank for 'Million Dollar Baby,' tapped for reality TV show". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  2. "BoxRec: Maureen Shea". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  3. Little, Dave (2009-02-20). "Ziegel: Tyson brings out fight in her". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-03-01. Retrieved 2012-01-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Marra, Jim (April 13, 2006). "Entrevista exclusiva del boxeo: Maureen Shea". Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  6. "Maureen Shea Carranza Confía En Conquistasr El Cinto Pluma Del Cmb Ante Diana Ayala". BoxNoticias. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  7. "Boxing – Gutierrez Retains & Shea Gains Gold this Past Weekend in Mexico | Wombat Sports". Wombatsports.wordpress.com. 2011-12-12. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  8. "Kina Malpartida Stops Maureen Shea in TKO Upset - Boxing News". Boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
  9. "Reflecting into 2012 WBC featherweight world champion Maureen Shea". December 31, 2011. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  10. Archived March 16, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Maureen Shea". Archived from the original on October 19, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  13. "Maureen Shea: Vegetarian Testimonial". PETA. Retrieved 6 Feb. 2019.
  15. "PETA.org // Veggie Testimonials // Maureen Shea // Print Ad". Veggietestimonial.peta.org. Retrieved 2015-08-17. See also "Maureen Shea's Interview With PETA". Peta.org. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
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