For Andrea Moore, who was born deaf, boxing has always been a gift. Introduced to her by her parents as a teenager as a way to cope with problems caused by bullying, the Rossville resident quickly fell in love with this amazing science. Now, almost 20 years later, boxing is a gift she is able to share with others.
Moore, a health department official, was recently appointed president of the DSNY boxing team and is committed to encouraging athletes to excel both in and out of the ring.
“My vision for the team is to bring the Department of Sanitation to the highest level of visibility in the boxing world, like the NYPD, NYC Fire Department and Department of Corrections,” Moore said. “I want myself and my fighters to share our love and respect for boxing and show how important it is and what good it can do for everyone, giving back to the community and raising funds for charities such as the Cops and Kids Boxing Program, Tunnels to Towers and other future charities.”
The DSNY team was founded in 2019 and quickly found success before activities were scaled back due to COVID-19. Moore joined DSNY last year and has been a driving force behind the team's resurgence.
“I took the job last July,” she said. “Because I have a boxing background, Tom Scozza (one of the founders) and I discussed reviving the boxing club with the support of other senior members of the workforce. They felt I would be the best person to carry on the tradition.”
Andrea Moore poses for a selfie after finishing up a workout ahead of her first and only match of 2022. (Photo by Andrea Moore)
As president, Moore presides over meetings, oversees the team's finances, coordinates team activities, approves fighters for events and represents the team in all official capacities.
The 32-year-old Moore began her boxing career at age 14 and will finally be able to test her skills in her first fight in 2022. Moore competed at First Responders Unite for Fight Night at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park in St. George. In what would be her only bout, she narrowly lost to Lisa Kilmer of the U.S. Marine Corps Boxing Team.
Two months after the fight, Moore had cochlear implant surgery to restore her hearing. The implants are so sensitive that she can no longer risk head trauma. But the fact that she can no longer step into the ring has not dampened her enthusiasm one bit.
“I'm even more motivated now,” she said. “It's more passionate because it's not just about me. I miss boxing every day. I still think about all the old training sessions and sparring sessions and tell myself to be thankful that I had that experience and that I was good at boxing. Boxing has helped me in so many ways and still helps me today, so I want everyone to know about it and experience it. I'm happy to be able to share it and offer it for my team and live it through my team. We can share that pride together and do it for DSNY and the community.”
After all, Andrea Moore may no longer be able to step into the ring, but she's still more than capable of putting up a good fight.
