With 40 years of experience within the ring, Jack Mook knows boxing talent. He can see the center of a champion and he sees it in Mary Casamassa. “Mary is an exceptional athlete,” he said. “This girl is pure Pittsburgh. This is a city built on champions.” Casamassa will enter the ring on Saturday night, fighting for the world title. Mook shall be in her corner, watching every jab. He has been Casamassa’s coach for the past seven years. “The first year with me, we made it to the Golden Gloves state finals,” Mook said. “She won it easily in my opinion. We’ve been on a roll ever since.” Casamassa is undefeated in her skilled profession. The 24-year-old Pitt graduate and civil engineer knows day-after-day that she is going to make boxing history. “It’s a big struggle for me,” she said. “This is the first 10-round live women’s title fight to take place in Pittsburgh. I’m very excited about this. I can not wait for Saturday”. As she prepares to become the Women’s International Boxing Association super middleweight champion, Casamassa is under intense criticism from her dogged coach and the overwhelming support from her boxing family at Jack’s Boxing Gym. “Honestly, it’s a great gym,” she said. “I mean, I remember when I first came here, I met Jack and I thought, ‘Wow, what a grumpy guy.’ And then we’ve gotten really close over the years, and he’s a really funny guy and a really warm guy.” Mook knows of one other battle his young warrior fought to get to this special night. When he receives the decision on Saturday, Casamassa shall be celebrating the 18th anniversary of his diabetes diagnosis. She is grateful for every blow and each victory, while earning her place within the highlight on the world stage. “I just think it’s really cool because if,” he told me when I was 6 years old in the emergency room putting on an IV and stuff like that, “You’re going to fight for the world title,” Casamassa said. “Mary deserved this, where she should be noticed and appreciated for her achievements. She is an exceptional athlete,” Mook said. With Casamassa’s parents in Florida and her three brothers who served or are serving within the military living out of state, her large and loud boxing family at Jack’s Boxing Gym shall be cheering her on Saturday evening on the Steamfitters Local Union 449 event center in Harmony.
With 40 years of experience within the ring, Jack Mook knows boxing talent. He can see the center of a champion and he sees it in Mary Casamassa.
“Mary is an exceptional athlete,” he said. “This girl is pure Pittsburgh. This is a city built on champions.”
Casamassa will enter the ring on Saturday night, fighting for the world title. Mook shall be in her corner, watching every jab. He has been Casamassa’s coach for the past seven years.
“The first year with me, we made it to the Golden Gloves state finals,” Mook said. “She won it easily in my opinion. We’ve been on a roll ever since.”
Casamassa is undefeated in her skilled profession. The 24-year-old Pitt graduate and civil engineer knows day-after-day that she is going to make boxing history.
“It’s a big struggle for me,” she said. “This is the primary 10-round live women’s title fight to happen in Pittsburgh. I’m very enthusiastic about this. I cannot wait for Saturday”.
As he prepares to change into the Women’s International Boxing Association super middleweight champion, Casamassa receives raw love from his strict coach and tremendous support from his boxing family at Jack’s Boxing Gym.
“Honestly, it’s a great gym,” she said. “I mean, I remember when I first came here, I met Jack and I thought, ‘Wow, what a grumpy guy.’ And then we’ve gotten really close over the years, and he’s a really funny guy and a really warm guy.”
Mook knows of one other battle his young warrior fought to get to this special night. By ringing the bell on Saturday, Casamassa will mark the 18th anniversary of his diabetes diagnosis.
She is grateful for every blow and each victory, while earning her place within the highlight on the world stage.
“I just think it’s really cool, because if you told me when I was 6 years old, in the emergency room, when they were putting the IV in and stuff like that, ‘You’re going to fight for the world title,’” Casamasa said.
“Mary deserved it and should be recognized and appreciated for her achievements. She is an exceptional athlete,” Mook said.
Since Casamassa’s Florida parents and her three brothers who served or are serving within the military live out of state, her large and loud boxing family at Jack’s Boxing Gym shall be cheering her on Saturday night on the Steamfitters Local Union 449 Event Center in Harmony.
