Fitness and Empowerment come together In OBC’s New Women’s Intro to Boxing Class

By Jose Hernandez

OSWEGO – OBC Athletics has started a Women’s Intro to Boxing program every Monday at 135 E Bridge St here in Oswego. Their main goal is to help fight the stigma against women’s entry into boxing gyms.

25 Women filled the gym and participated in a class led by coaches Derrick Falcetti and Golden Gloves champion Andre Mendez.

OBC is launching a new movement, #WomenBoxToo, that offers women a supportive environment with other women in the gym, with no pressure to compete.

“What’s it going to be about is women helping other women become better, stronger physically and mentally, and let the world know that women box too. It’s not just combat. You can learn the fundamentals of the sport, and not have to fight,” said Falcetti.

Falcetti brought his usual charisma to the class, instructing while keeping the general mood lighthearted.

OBC began to have women’s classes in 2013. Citing DEI, OBC began to blend everyone into one class, so there were no boundaries.

“We’re of the belief that women train harder than men,” said Falcetti.

Kayliana Cook, Ziona Cook, and Tatianna Davis, sisters and cousin to Silver Gloves champion King Cook, have inspired OBC and Falcetti to put a spotlight on female boxers.

“WomenBoxToo is an empowerment phrase. I want them to know they can come through these doors. They don’t have to be around the competitive boxers; they can have a supportive environment with other women,” said Falcetti.

Amy Leotta and Gwin Peirson of the Fulton YMCA attended the class and enjoyed it.

Leotta and Peirson are both connected to the fitness world and women’s empowerment, and find having both worlds come together to be really great.

Leotta is the CEO of the Fulton YMCA, and Peirson is the Health and Wellness director and a personal trainer.

“I loved the class, it was a lot of fun. It was a good self-esteem booster,” said Leotta, “especially for people coming in for the very first time and not really knowing what to expect. It was well-paced and well-explained. And the music was on point!”

Leotta, like many women, might feel awkward coming into a gym full of men despite an interest in training.

“I like both kickboxing and boxing. I do CrossFit and powerlifting. This is a good kind of different experience. It brings all the good HIIT (High-intensity interval training) stuff together instead of it being separated in different places,” said Peirson.

Training in combat sports can empower women, making them feel capable if they are ever in danger.

“The awareness of how to move your body in a different way to have an impact and protect ourselves, that’s what draws me as woman. The fitness aspect as well, but if I ever had to protect myself, I’d at least have some idea how to move,” said Leotta.

“That’s why strength is so important for women,” added Peirson, “as long as you know you’re strong enough, you can.”

Leotta described the experience and stigma of entering a boxing gym as nerve-wracking.

“I’m going to walk into a room of men who know what they’re doing. Are they going to see me as weak? Are they going to talk down to me? Are they going to treat me with respect? Because it does happen. We’ve entered fitness areas where we don’t feel respected,” said Leotta,” having women in the title makes us feel safe.”

“The comfort level when you come into a class that is for women is a lot easier to get through the door and try something new,” said Perison.

Falcetti feels great pride in helping women feel empowered.

“Am I proud of Andre Mendez, Tito Delgado, and King Cook? Of course, they are nationally ranked athletes. I’ll tell you what makes me equally as proud. It’s the people who come here, cannot do a push-up, go through our program, and follow just a little bit of our advice, and now they’re doing 10 push-ups. It’s one of the proudest and most impactful moments of my coaching experience,” said Falcetti.

While hoping women never have to use the skills gained in the classes, Falcetti remains realistic that it is a cold world and that people must know how to defend themselves.

Some of the women who came were returning members, but the majority of the 25 attendees were new members, drawn by a Facebook post on the OBC page.

As they continue to build the women’s program, Falcetti hopes #WomenBoxToo can become a social media movement that inspires other gyms to offer more women-centric programs.

Women are encouraged to stay in the women ’s-only classes if they choose to, but are also encouraged to attend the integrated classes.

Behind the desk checking people in was coach Elain Falcetti.

“I want people who know that Elain isn’t someone we just gave a coach title to. She is well respected by the competition class. If she is leading a class, the guys know they are about to go to work,” said Falcetti, “I get more into the science of boxing, Elain will motivate you and get you to do things that you didn’t know they were capable of. A coach has a responsibility to get you to do things you didn’t know you were capable of.”

Falcetti hopes Elain will eventually take over the class, but is fine with someone else doing it, as long as it is eventually women led.

“After the fundamentals are taught, that’s when you cut em to Elain. We know what our strengths and weaknesses are,” said Falcetti.

There will be another women’s only boxing class, and all women in the Oswego community and beyond are encouraged to attend and feel empowerment alongside other women.

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