Boxing champ Maureen Shea has dominated in the ring, and now she’s looking to conquer television.
The Throgs Neck native, who trained Hilary Swank for her Oscar-winning role in “Million Dollar Baby,” has been tapped to host a reality show about female boxers, to air in Mexico.
“It’s exciting,” said Shea, 30. “For a long time, the public ignored female boxing, but there has been a shift in recent years. This is a big moment for female boxing.”
The show, “Todas Contra Mexico” (All Against Mexico), pits a team of professional fighters from Mexico against an international team of boxers.
Filming begins next week in Chiapas, Mexico.
Heralded as the first of its kind, the show will delve into the lives of the women, highlighting the grueling regimen in their quest for a $100,000 grand prize.
“This is not a soap opera,” said producer Mapi Montero. “People are going to see that we are women and we can do anything we want. This show is going to make history, because no one believes women can fight.”
Shea, who is of Mexican and Irish descent, echoed Montero’s sentiments.
“As females, we have more passion,” she said. “It’s a different kind of drive than men, because we have to fight to validate ourselves.”
That persevering mentality has served Shea well.
She is the reigning North American Boxing Federation featherweight champ. And she’s ranked ninth in the world among female featherweights, according to boxrec.com.
Shea found boxing while dating an abusive boyfriend. She says the sport saved her life.
“Boxing helped me find the strength I didn’t know I had,” she said. “It gave me the ability to leave the relationship.”
She’s been very open about her rocky relationship and her struggles growing up. She believes showing her weaknesses has made her stronger and turned her into a role model for young women.
“I never sat around saying, ‘I’m going to be a role model.’ It just kinda happened,” she said. “I’m human. I’ve been through depression. I’ve been bullied, kicked out of high school. I really struggled growing up.”
Shea plans to share some of her experiences in the new show. But she mostly hopes to shine a spotlight on the other female boxers.
“I really want to get their messages out and get their stories across the best way I can,” she said.
Her boxing manager, Luigi Olcese, said she’s the right woman for the job.
“Maureen knows how to work hard at everything she does,” he said, “and that’s what I think she can pass on and bring to these ladies.”
BY TANYANIKA SAMUELS
DAILY NEWS