Wrestling Club Founder Expands His Sports' Horizon

Joe Boxer was coaching at a New Jersey-based wrestling club when he decided to make a move. The 1996 Fox Lane graduate and Cortland alumnus was enjoying his position, however, Boxer wanted to open his own club and work with the wrestlers of Section 1.

 In November of 2009, Boxer carried through with his plan, opening Westchester Wrestling Club, which now has two locations, WWC-North in Bedford Hills, and WWC-South in New Rochelle. Boxer will be moving his northern school to Mount Kisco in July.

“The head coach there had a made a career out of running the club and I said, ‘I can do this,’” said Boxer, who is currently the Iona Prep assistant wrestling coach. “It also didn’t help that the housing market and mortgage industry were not good.”

Boxer, who has a Finance degree, worked for eight years in the mortgage industry and is also a certified tax preparer, works with wrestlers ages 5 through 65, four days a week. He has approximately 50 wrestlers encompassing 15 Westchester County schools, as well as some wrestlers from New Jersey.

“It is the most rewarding feeling in the world,” said Boxer, who was an assistant coach at Mahopac, Valley Central (Orange County) and St, Benedict’s Prep (New Jersey). “We are a very close, tight-knit family. These guys know I will do anything for them and I know they will do anything for me.”

Boxer credits his coaching philosophy to his mentor and current Fox Lane wrestling coach, Joe Amuso, Sr.

“We looked up to Coach Amuso as a second father and gave him the utmost respect,” Boxer said. “We always wanted to win for him because he treated us with respect. He was stern and assertive, but he had and still has an open heart. He molded me into the person and coach I am today. This is what I do with my wrestlers.”

Boxer is also branching out into mixed martial arts. He recently had his first MMA fight and is scheduled for the ring, June 17 at Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City.

“I achieved a goal recently, fighting in my first MMA fight,” Boxer said.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Bedford and receive free news updates.