With 40 years of experience in the ring, Jack Mook knows boxing talent. He can spot the heart of a champion fighter — and he sees that in Mary Casamassa.”Mary’s a special athlete,” he said. “This girl’s pure Pittsburgh. This is a city built on champions.”Casamassa will climb into the ring Saturday night, fighting for a world title. Mook will be in her corner watching every jab. He’s been Casamassa’s coach for the past seven years.”The first year with me, we went to the Golden Gloves state finals,” Mook said. “She won it easily, in my opinion. We’ve been on a roll ever since then.”Casamassa is undefeated in her pro career. The 24-year-old Pitt grad and civil engineer by day knows she’ll be punching her way into boxing history.”It’s a big fight for me,” she said. “It’s the first live women’s 10-round title fight to be held in Pittsburgh. I’m really excited for it. I can’t wait for Saturday.”Prepping for this Women’s International Boxing Association super middleweight title, Casamassa gets tough love from her gritty coach and big-time support from her boxing family at Jack’s Boxing Gym.”It’s a great gym, honestly,” she said. “I mean, I remember when I first came here and I met Jack and I just thought, ‘Wow, what a grouchy-looking guy.’ And then we grew so close over the years, and he’s actually a ton of fun and a really warm guy.”Mook knows about the other battle his young fighter has powered through just to get to this special night. As she answers the bell Saturday, Casamassa will mark her 18th anniversary of her diabetes diagnosis.She’s grateful for every punch and every victory while earning her place at center ring on the world stage.”I just think it’s really cool, because if you’d told me back when I was 6 years old in the emergency room, getting the IV put in and all of that, ‘You’re going to be fighting for a world title,'” Casamassa said.”Mary has earned it, where she should be noticed and recognized for her achievements. She’s that special of an athlete,” Mook said.With Casamassa’s parents in Florida and her three brothers who have served or are serving in the military living out of state, her large and loud boxing family at Jack’s Boxing Gym will be cheering her on Saturday night at the Steamfitters Local Union 449 Event Center in Harmony.
With 40 years of experience in the ring, Jack Mook knows boxing talent. He can spot the heart of a champion fighter — and he sees that in Mary Casamassa.
“Mary’s a special athlete,” he said. “This girl’s pure Pittsburgh. This is a city built on champions.”
Casamassa will climb into the ring Saturday night, fighting for a world title. Mook will be in her corner watching every jab. He’s been Casamassa’s coach for the past seven years.
“The first year with me, we went to the Golden Gloves state finals,” Mook said. “She won it easily, in my opinion. We’ve been on a roll ever since then.”
Casamassa is undefeated in her pro career. The 24-year-old Pitt grad and civil engineer by day knows she’ll be punching her way into boxing history.
“It’s a big fight for me,” she said. “It’s the first live women’s 10-round title fight to be held in Pittsburgh. I’m really excited for it. I can’t wait for Saturday.”
Prepping for this Women’s International Boxing Association super middleweight title, Casamassa gets tough love from her gritty coach and big-time support from her boxing family at Jack’s Boxing Gym.
“It’s a great gym, honestly,” she said. “I mean, I remember when I first came here and I met Jack and I just thought, ‘Wow, what a grouchy-looking guy.’ And then we grew so close over the years, and he’s actually a ton of fun and a really warm guy.”
Mook knows about the other battle his young fighter has powered through just to get to this special night. As she answers the bell Saturday, Casamassa will mark her 18th anniversary of her diabetes diagnosis.
She’s grateful for every punch and every victory while earning her place at center ring on the world stage.
“I just think it’s really cool, because if you’d told me back when I was 6 years old in the emergency room, getting the IV put in and all of that, ‘You’re going to be fighting for a world title,'” Casamassa said.
“Mary has earned it, where she should be noticed and recognized for her achievements. She’s that special of an athlete,” Mook said.
With Casamassa’s parents in Florida and her three brothers who have served or are serving in the military living out of state, her large and loud boxing family at Jack’s Boxing Gym will be cheering her on Saturday night at the Steamfitters Local Union 449 Event Center in Harmony.
