Shea vs. Silgado

Maureen Shea vs. Calista Silgado

Carnesecca Arena at St. John’s University in the Jamaica section of Queens, New York, USA – 7 May 2022

Maureen Shea insists that her homecoming fight this Saturday is not a comeback; it’s a take back.

The Bronx native Shea (29-2-1, 13 knockouts) will face Calista Silgado (19-13-3, 14 KOs) at Carnesecca Arena at St. John’s University in the Jamaica section of Queens, N.Y.

The eight round junior featherweight bout will be part of the “Borough Boxing” card promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

“She’s been in there with a lot of top fighters. She’s a strong girl, she’s definitely durable and the experience is there so I expect a good fight. I’m not looking for the knockout, if it comes it comes. But I’m looking to put on a boxing clinic,” said Shea of Silgado, a native of Santiago de Tolu, Colombia who has fought eight times for a world title.

The fight will be Shea’s first in her hometown since 2010, and “The Real Million Dollar Baby” is excited to return home to begin her campaign to become world champion once more.

“I’m looking at myself and I’ve definitely evolved as a woman and as a fighter,” said Shea. “I know my why, I know why I’m doing this now.”

Shea has been one of the most accomplished female boxers over the past couple of decades, and has not lost in over a decade. She has won a pair of world titles and become a fan favorite through her thrilling fights, both in the United States and her mother’s home country of Mexico.

Still, there is plenty of unfinished business remaining for Shea, who was unjustly denied her world title opportunity last year by the WBA after she was passed over for a shot at the vacant bantamweight title despite being the no. 2 ranked contender.

Instead, the no. 8 and 9 ranked contenders fought for the vacant belt. Shea was also ranked no. 2 by the IBF at junior featherweight, but was dropped altogether from the IBF rankings.

Shea believes that the landmark women’s fight this past weekend between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano which sold out Madison Square Garden is indicative of what the sport is capable of if the right fights are made.

“I’m not doing this just for myself, I’m also doing this for a lot of women who get passed up,” said Shea. “After what happened last weekend, eyes are now on women’s boxing more than ever before. I’m looking forward to putting on a great performance. The fans deserve those big fights. They’re getting these girls who are fighting for world titles that are mediocre fighters. It’s unfair to the fans. What happened last weekend, I want to happen now for my weight class.”

Shea is now based in Boca Raton, Fla., where she is trained by boxing coach Derik Santos and strength and conditioning coach Phil Daru.

Carnesecca Arena is located at 80-00 Utopia Pkwy in Jamaica, N.Y. Doors open at 7 p.m.

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Maureen Shea vs. Calista Silgado

St John’s Carnesecca Arena in Queens, New York, USA – 7 May 2022

On Saturday, May 7th at St John’s Carnesecca Arena in Queens, New York, Hilary Swank sparring partner and familiar Bronx born face will make her ring walk in the borough’s of New York for the first time in over a decade. Well known, former two-time World Champion, MAUREEN “THE REAL MILLION DOLLAR BABY” SHEA (Bronx, New York, 29-2-1 13KO’s) returns to the ring against former world championship challenger, CALISTA “CALI” SILGADO (19-13-3 14KO’s).

Maureen was born in the Bronx in 1981 and raised by her Irish father, who was an NYPD Detective, and her Mexican mother, who was in the airline industry. Her ring moniker, “The Real Million Dollar Baby” originates from her work as the main sparring partner for Hilary Swank leading up to the 2004 release of the award-winning film, “Million Dollar Baby.”

Maureen found great success when she became a professional boxer. Over her career she secured the IFBA Jr. Featherweight World, World, NABF Featherweight, NABA Featherweight and Interim WBC Featherweight Champion. In 2009 Maureen also challenged for the WBA Super Featherweight world title against Kina Malpartida at Madison Square Garden, falling short in the 10 round bout. Over the last 12 years, Maureen Shea has not lost a bout. Shea-Silgado will be an 8-round super bantamweight fight.

“My boxing roots are in NYC,” said Shea. “It has always been a goal of mine to come back to New York and fight. I have been away for 12 years, sharpening, growing and learning as a boxer and a woman. I am excited to come back to my hometown and show where my sacrifices and hard work has gotten me!”

Facing Maureen Shea is Calista Silgado who is coming off two separate world title challenges which include a decision loss to South Korea’s undefeated Hyun Mi Choi for the WBA World Female Super Featherweight Title and a decision loss to undefeated Melissa Oddessa Parker for the IBF World Female Bantamweight Title. Over her 35-fight career, the 34-year-old Silgado has challenged for a world title 8 times. With 14 of her 19 victories coming by way of KO, Silgado poses a threat for Shea with every punch.