Shayna Foppiano – Everett Leader Herald

Foppiano looking to make waves

JUNE 18: Professional Boxer Shayna Foppiano practices her boxing skills underwater. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso)

Next bout July 23

By LORENZO RECUPERO

It’s been over a year since Everett boxer Shayna Foppiano last got into the ring to defend her undefeated professional record.

Finally, after months of searching for an opponent and waiting out Coronavirus restrictions, the time has come for Foppiano (3-0-1) to flex her muscle and try to extend her winning record.

“Oh, man, I am so excited for the fans! It’s definitely music to my ears!,” said a very ready-to-go Foppiano, who will be fighting in front of a live crowd, something she wasn’t sure would be a possibility when fig planning began earlier this year.

The upcoming bout, against pro boxer Vanessa Grimes of Texas, who has a background in Mixed Martial Arts, will take place Friday, July 23rd at the Castleton Banquet Hall in Windham, New Hampshire. Doors are scheduled open at 6pm, fights start at 7pm.

Foppiano plays waiting game for next fight

By LORENZO RECUPERO

Local undefeated boxer Shayna Foppiano is finding it hard to lock down an opponent.

Foppiano had her next scheduled fight, originally slated for mid-March, pushed back six weeks because her opponent dropped out.

Multiple potential opponents have dropped out of bouts with her recently.

“We’re having a hard time locking down an opponent. Four separate opponents fell through, but we’re optimistic that we now have someone good to go for the first week of May,” said Foppiano, who plans to put together a fundraiser sometime in April ahead of her potential fight.

Foppiano has been staying busy while she awaits her next fight, working equally as hard in the gym as out of it to gather promotions and spread the word for her next matchup.

Foppiano looks to get back in the ring

Boxer Shayna Foppiano sparring with workout partner Dennis Hickey. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso)

Knocked out by Coronavirus local boxer battles back for upcoming March bout

By LORENZO RECUPERO

Local boxer Shayna Foppiano is training again to pick up the gloves and get back in the ring after a Coronavirus-extended absence from the sport she loves.

Foppiano, looking to extend her undefeated professional record (3- 0-1), will fight Saturday, March 13 at the Castleton Banquet Hall in Castleton, New Hampshire at a date and time still to be determined.

With her initial opponent backing out of the scheduled bout, whom she will square-off with will be named at a later date.

The fight, due to Coronavirus regulations still in place, won’t feature any in-person fanfare but will be streamed live on the Boston Boxing Promotions Facebook page.

Foppiano, who fell victim to Coronavirus late last year, said her fight against the illness wasn’t an easy win but she is back up, better, and healthy.

The gloves are back on

Shayna Foppiano spars with Dennis Hickey as she gets back in the gym after the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso)

By LORENZO RECUPERO

With Covid-19 restrictions easing and national sports readying to restart, athletes everywhere have been taking back their routines.

For undefeated professional boxer and Everett native, Shayna Foppiano, that means getting back to the basics.

“It’s really, really nice to be back and pushing harder,” said Foppiano, excited that gyms are finally back open.

In her first week back, she pounded-out four sessions with trainer Joe Lake, each including a four-mile run.

“The same day it opened I could not wait to get in [the gym]. It’s the thing I love, being in that environment,” said Foppiano, who used some of that time to get into her first official sparring session since lockdowns with Revere Police Officer Dennis Hickey (above).

The quarantined athlete

20200131_shayna_JP_27 — Shayna Foppiano (above) during a night of professional boxing promoted by Boston Boxing. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso)

By Lorenzo Recupero

Athletes all over the country and beyond and right here in Everett have all had their sports careers come to an abrupt stop as a result of Covid-19 emergency actions. From the city’s high school and younger athletes, to the professionals such as local boxer Shayna Foppiano, lifestyles have changed and when they will return to normal is kind of an unknown.

In a cell phone conversation recently, Foppiano shared what she does know about staying active and possibly ‘reinventing’ yourself during the time of coronavirus and quarantines. From studying film to getting loved ones involved, here’s her take on it all.

What’s your mindset through all this? How are you able to tell yourself as an athlete to keep working your hardest even though you won’t be able to compete?

I personally don’t feel like it’s difficult to keep active every day during all of this – In fact, I think of this time as an advantage. Of course, it’s hard not being able to go to the gym and use the bags and train with my team and coach, but on the upside now I have all of this free time out of work to train. I’ve been studying a lot of boxing film while I’m inside and making sure I work out in some way for 2-3 hours a day. I crave the structure and my body feels awful when I’m not working out regularly.

Has social distancing effected your workouts with not having your trainer and usual equipment? If so, how have you supplemented that loss?

Not having my team and coach has definitely altered my workouts but I’m making sure they still are boxing focused. My husband has been holding the pads for me a few times a week so that’s been helpful. I also started running more every day, which is great because my coach told me that I needed to “fall in love with running”- what better time than now.

Continue reading The quarantined athlete