The Broadway Boxing Club, under the direction of Dennis Willcox and Joe Ricciardi, is prepping two of its top amateur boxers for their next bouts to be held July 31 in Dedham.
Nineteen-year-old fighters Shea Willcox and Tommy Shen have been training daily at the club which is located on the second floor of the old Everett High School building at 548 Broadway.
Both fighters are coming off impressive victories in their last bouts. Willcox won a tough, split decision in a three-round bout against a Manchester (N.H.) fighter. Shen earned a 5-0 decision over an opponent from Lawrence.
Willcox, son of Dennis and Kelly Willcox, will return to the ring on a pro-am card at Mosely’s on the Charles in Dedham.
“Everything is going well,” said Willcox. “I’m in training six days a week and sparring two to three times a week. Having a boxing gym in Everett is great. It’s the best gym I’ve been at so far. I’m working hard and I’ll be ready for the fight.”
Shea, who is 5-feet-9 and fights at 152 pounds, is pointing toward his first appearance in the New England Golden Gloves in January.
“I’m just going to stay busy until the Golden Gloves,” said Shea, who is the younger brother of Brown University quarterback Jake Willcox.
Shen is a sophomore at Pace University (New York City) where he is studying computer science. He is the son of John and Minwu Shen. His sister, Michelle Shen, is a graduate of Barnard College and pursuing her Master’s degree at Oxford.
Shen, who is 5-feet-5 and fights in the 126-pound division, believes his training team is helping him improve his boxing skills and has him focused on his next fight.
“I feel I’ve been getting great instruction at the club,” said Shen. “I think my strengths as a fighter are my fast feet, fast hands, speed – and I’ve got some pop to my punches, too.”
With the COVID-19 restrictions on training being lifted and fans now being allowed to attend fights, Ricciardi said his fighters are motivated to resume regular sessions and compete in the ring.
“They know that they’re going to get fights scheduled,” said Ricciardi. “It’s been 18 months without amateur fights because of COVID-19. With things opening up, our fighters are coming to the club every day, working hard, and getting better.”
Dennis Willcox said tickets ($20) to the July 31 boxing card are available at the Broadway Boxing Club. The amateur boxing card begins at 2 p.m.