Golden Gloves winner Matt Phinney, a manager and trainer at United States Mixed Martial Arts (USMMA) studio in Bellingham, MA won the recent USA Boxing New England Championship finals held at the Portland Boxing Club in Portland, ME.
Phinney a resident of Medway, Mass, won a unanimous decision over Hector Martinez of Holyoke, Mass., in the novice welterweight division. The New England Championship is his second “big win” this year. Back in May, Phinney won the regional Golden Gloves boxing tournament in Lowell, going 5-0 to be named Champion in the 152-pound division in his first novice tournament.
Though the New England Championship match is an amateur event, it is well-respected with thousands in attendance. Phinney’s goal is to progress in the industry of boxing towards the Olympics.
Phinney trains with Tom Hafers, owner of USMMA and Peter Welch, a former Golden Gloves champion and boxing trainer. Mixed Martial Arts, a compilation of combat skills involving Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Thai boxing, wrestling, kickboxing and judo, are incorporated into his training as a boxer.
Along with training for and winning tournaments, Phinney juggles being a student (majoring in Sports Management) at Mount Ida College in Newton with his job at USMMA which includes teaching adults and children jujitsu, wrestling, and mixed martial arts.
Hafers, who has been training Phinney for five years explained, “Matt knows what he wants; creates specific goals; focuses on them; works hard and succeeds in attaining those goals. He’s a great role model. I’m confident he will make it to the Olympics.”
The Portland Boxing Club
The 122 year-old, non-profit Portland Boxing Club promotes amateur boxing under the auspices of the USA Boxing, Inc. and provides its registered members with a wide range of Olympic style boxing techniques and strategies. For more information about the club, visit their website at PortlandBoxingClub.org.
About USMMA
USMMA focuses on elevating the physical and spiritual well being of students through Mixed Martial Arts and Yoga. Classes offered include Strength & Conditioning; Brazilian Jiu Jitsu; Thai Boxing; Cardio Thai Boxing; Wrestling; Cardio and Open Mat; Kids Mixed Martial Arts; Pilates; Power Yoga and Deep Flow Yoga.
USMMA’s state of the art, 4,000 square foot training facility is complete with a 2,000 square foot padded MMA training floor equipped with heavy bags and conditioning equipment, a 1,500 square foot yoga studio, locker rooms, showers and a juice bar. USMMA is located at 316 Hartford Avenue in Bellingham. For more information, call 508-966-5006 or visit their website at www.usmma.org.
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