Walk into any boxing gym or MMA facility today and you will see a variety of people, the individual trying to stay in shape, to the individual vying to become the next MMA star. But, there is always one in every class, one in the mix to rid of the demons that have eaten away at the mind and soul from the past.
Maureen Shea ‘The Real Million Dollar Baby,’ who earned the iconic nickname for being Hilary Swank’s main sparring partner in preparation for her role in the 2004 Clint Eastwood film, is one of those ladies that has reaped the benefits of never giving up.
Boasting a record of 24-2, with 12 knockouts, a casual fan of the sport would assume Shea would adore being looked at as a female boxer, but, in fact, she dislikes the use of that term.
“As a woman in the sport of boxing, I don’t see myself as a female boxer. I’m a boxer, period. I’m an athlete. I’m very competitive, and I put myself up there with the men.”
This brought up the topic of current undisputed, undefeated UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Ronda Rousey, who like Shea, is a supremely confident athlete. The term ‘nervous’ is one not associated with these athletes.
During a March 2015 appearance on SportsCenter, Rousey claimed she could beat all male UFC fighters in her division.
“I never say that I’m incapable of beating anybody because I don’t believe in putting limits on myself. If you’re just talking about what’s in the realm of possibility of who I could beat, I could beat 100 percent of them [men],” Rousey said.
However, fighting a man is out of the question. From her perspective, it would send the wrong message.
“I don’t think we should celebrate a man hitting a woman in any kind of setting.”
When asked if she shared the same reasoning as Rousey, she responded candidly and humorously.
“Well, yes. Absolutely. I don’t want to hit a man. I want to love a man,” laughed Shea.
Sometimes it is very difficult to see what lies behind a pulchritudinous smile. Behind every smile is a story. Shea knows exactly where she could have been had she not found boxing.
When Shea was just 19 years of age, she found herself in a physically abusive relationship.
“It began with verbal abuse, but then he started to physically abuse me, to the point where I wasn’t sure if I was going to love. I was afraid, scared.
“At that point, I didn’t know who I was. He broke me down, mentally and spiritually. I had lost it all. I lived in fear for three years.”
In the process of finding a new path, Shea discovered boxing, where she has proved to be very discerning.
And unlike some women who, unfortunately, have not been able to escape the dark clouds of abuse, Shea didn’t go to a program, she didn’t go see a counselor, but she did it all herself, building her inner strength to get out of the relationship, and becoming a slick boxer in the process.
Despite being a late bloomer in the sport, Shea turned pro after a short, but successful amateur career, immediately making a splash.
Shea won 13 of her first 14 fights, with seven knockouts. The one fight that she didn’t win was her sixth pro bout against Kim Colbert. What was initially a split-decision victory for Colbert, was changed to a no contest after Colbert tested positive for marijuana in her post-fight drug test.
Her first attempt at a world championship was thwarted by Kina Malpartida by 10th round TKO and was stopped again in her following fight to Lindsay Garbatt.
The training, discipline, and competition has given Shea new life. Knowing she has been down before, she knew she could still bounce back and raise her arms in victory once again. She went further than anyone expected for her to go.
After dispatching of Norma Faris inside the third round, she earned a shot at the vacant NABF featherweight title against Liliana Martinez, and she disposed of Martinez easily within three rounds.
Shea has won 11 fights in a row, with five knockouts. However, she’s had trouble landing fights.
“Female fighters should be showcased on television and big promotions, but it’s not the case because many promoters, even the top ones, are reluctant to use women on their cards.
“As a result of that, I had to find my own matches,” Shea said.
In 2010, she and her longtime manager Luigi Olcese, established Pandora Promotions so she could stay active able to land fights that made financial sense in her own country. Since the establishment, seven of her 10 fights have taken place in Mexico.
What didn’t make sense to Shea was to continue to base herself in New York, where she was on pills to combat her depression, as well as an eating disorder that came along with it.
“Many people turn to drugs when they are depressed. I didn’t do drugs; I turned to food.”
Some of the gaps in Shea’s career were a result of the depression, leading to side effects such as weight gain and fatigue. Shea didn’t want to be on pills anymore. Instead, she pursued an alternative and discovered one with no side effects, California.
“I’m a very spiritual person. God has been such an important part of my life, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without God. I found California.
“California is such a beautiful place. The sun is always out, and it has done its part in healing me emotionally, physically, and mentally.”
God sometimes puts us in situations that seem impossible, but when we overcome that challenge, we in turn can help people, and Shea is that type of a person, a blossom with a gleaming smile that has been to the gates of hell, but didn’t allow herself to be succumbed by its stinging grasp.
With her head back on even footing, she can now focus on what she does best, trading leather with some of the best athletes the world has to offer.
In August, she is scheduled to fight Yulihan Alejandra Luna Avila for her IBF Super bantamweight world title, who holds a record of 12-2, with one lone knockout.
But, don’t let the low knockout ratio fool you. Anything can happen in boxing, let alone in life. Maureen Shea knows that, and she’s not going to allow a record get in the way of what she has to do in the ring.
“Like in my last fight against Gladney, I’m going to have to do what I have to do. I’m going to have to be smart,” Shea said.
She has lifted the equivalent of a five-ton steel door off her shoulders that would crush the Terminator, and it’s going to take a lot for Luna to stop what’s coming for her in August.
Maureen will look to careen her way around the ring and snag her 12th consecutive victory. Stay tuned for what this incredible lady has to offer for the remainder of 2015.
