Shakha Moore honed his boxing skills under the tutelage of the legendary Deacon John Harris at age 11, while growing up in South Norwalk. Harris taught the sport to keep kids out of trouble amid the temptation of drug dealing and street gangs.
“He was the greatest man alive in my book, because he did a lot for the community,” Moore said of Harris. “He would scope out kids getting into trouble and approach them outside the courthouse to offer them an opportunity to improve their lives.”
One day Moore was playing with his childhood friend, Terrance Mapp, who told him he was going to the gym later. He decided to join him and never looked back.
“It was a way out of the projects,” Moore said. “It was definitely a big opportunity. If I wasn’t in the gym, I might have been out doing stuff I shouldn’t be doing. When four o’clock came, I always left what I was doing and went to the gym.”
During their sessions, he said Deacon Harris always encouraged Moore and his other boxers to help out the newer members. Moore, who went on to become a respected professional fighter, winning his first welterweight championship belt last year, at age 47, continues to teach.
He recently opened his own gym, Shak’s Boxing and Fitness at 600 Main St. in Monroe, where he teaches group classes and works one-on-one with aspiring boxers, people interested in learning self-defense, and those who just want to get into fighting shape.
“It’s a different workout than your normal gym,” said Moore’s wife, Ilka. “It’s very unique. You learn new skills and the sport of boxing.”
The Moores, who first started dating in 1997 and have been married for 19 years, live in Bridgeport. The couple has two daughters, Arianna, 11, and Angelis, 17, and a son, Shakha Jr., 31.
A boxing ring is in the middle of the gym, which has an area with a variety of punching bags, including heavy and speed bags.
Shakha Moore said members love the pad work, in which they lace up their boxing gloves and he holds pads, while teaching them how to throw the right punch correctly.
The gym has medicine balls, jump ropes, an elliptical machine, and a treadmill is coming. Moore said members go through a lot of body weight exercises, including push ups and dips.
“You’ll be in the best shape of your life,” he said.
A basic membership of $149 per month includes full access to the gym during business hours — currently 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Membership-Plus is $340 per month and includes full access to the gym and unlimited classes. Moore teaches two classes in the morning (6 a.m. and 8 a.m.) and two at night (6 p.m. and 7 p.m.).
People can also drop in and use the gym or go to a class for $30. For information, visit Shakha Moore’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
The gym celebrated its grand opening on Nov. 22. First Selectman Terry Rooney, Monroe Economic and Community Development Director William Holsworth, and Lee Hossler, ambassador of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the Moores to town and participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Rising up
Moore won his first amateur bout, a three round match in Holyoke, Mass., and soon realized he had a gift for the sport. He used his speed and sharpened his boxing skills during a successful amateur career, compiling a 45-5 record.
Moore fought in the Eastern U.S. Olympic Trials and, when he was eliminated from the tournament, he turned pro in 1996.
The welterweight stood at 5’8 and weighed around 148 pounds. The southpaw compiled a record of 13 wins (two by way of knockout), 24 losses and 3 draws.
“You can’t play boxing,” Moore said. “You can play basketball. You can play football. It’s you and him. You just have to duke it out and see who wins. You get a game plan before you fight, get in the ring and try to execute your game plan.”
In a video on YouTube, Moore said if your plan doesn’t work, you need a Plan B or even a Plan C to adapt in the ring.
Jimmy Burchfield of Providence, R.I., was Moore’s promoter for three years and once his contract was up, Moore decided to manage himself. He said he never hand-picked his opponents and, as a result, he always faced quality competition, often as the underdog.
Moore had two previous opportunities to fight for a championship belt in his career, before capturing the U.S. Boxing Federation’s Welterweight Championship belt in his last fight.
The 47-year-old underdog won a split decision against Wilfredo Pagan on June 16, 2023.
Moore held his arms up in triumph as the announcer told the crowd the third judge scored the fight 58-56. “In the blue corner … Shakha Moore!”
The green and gold championship belt is prominently displayed on the front counter at Shak’s Boxing and Fitness.
“I said, ‘win, lose or draw, this is my last fight,'” Moore recalled. “I could have kept going, but my wife said, ‘you’re 47.’ With concussions in the news and our two daughters …”
“Absolutely,” Ilka said in agreement over her husband’s retirement, “only because nowadays you’re getting in a ring with people half your age. Now he can train the kids to be champs.”
Working with youth
Shak’s Boxing and Fitness offers age 12 and younger and age 13 and older programs for group classes, in addition to personal training.
Moore said he enjoys working with young people, going back to his days of helping the PAL program in Norwalk. There he learned to help new kids catch up quickly, while his advanced students continued to progress.
Moore takes pride in teaching young athletes the sweet science of boxing, imparting not only skills, but also the values of hard work and perseverance, according to a write up on the Monroe Chamber of Commerce website. “Through his work in the gym and his role as a mentor, his mission is to empower the next generation, fostering a new wave of champions both in and out of the ring.”
Moore said he strives to make everyone who walks into his gym feel welcome, motivated and inspired. On Friday afternoon, Chris Coco of Monroe, who used to box, did floor crunches.
“I think this is amazing for the community,” he said of Monroe’s new gym. “It’s good for all ages. It improves your clarity, your focus and your concentration. It has a positive effect on the entire community. I’m glad they’re here.”
Coco said he enjoys being able to workout on his own, outside of classes. “You get what you put in,” he said, adding Shak’s Boxing and Fitness has flexible hours, allowing him to fit workouts into his busy schedule.
Though his boxing career is over, for Moore, his training never ends.
“I never smoked. I never drank. I never abused by body,” he said. “Dedication is key. You’ve got to dedicate yourself. I still train and I train like I’m fighting.”
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
