Please allow me to introduce to you Denis the “Momma’s Boy Douglin” no he’s not your average momma’s boy. Denis adopted this name ten years ago when he first stepped in the ring wearing shorts that read Momma’s Boy. When asked why a fighter would wear shorts that read momma’s boy in such a masculine sport is where his history in boxing begins.  Saphya Douglin is a certified boxing coach, and has been a personal trainer and nutrient specialist for over twenty years. She has been training her son to box since he was eight years old.  While living in Brooklyn she worked part time at the Rivera Boxing Gym where she taught young kids the fundamentals of boxing. Saphya often took Denis to work with her and it would be fair to say that his love for boxing did not come automatically.  It wasn’t until one day Denis came home from school and had been involved in a fight (let’s just says he didn’t do that well). This is when she pushed him into boxing and began to teach him how to defend himself. No longer thinking like a boxing coach, but as a mother she taught her son the fundamentals of boxing.  As time went on Denis grew to love the sport. Rivera Boxing gym closed down and they started training at Gleason’s gym. Saphya never box competitively, but at Gleason’s she trained and sparred with men and the women in preparation for competition.  Denis continued to train with his mother and Uncle Delen Parlsey who works as a trainer at Gleason’s Gym.

     When Denis was in his first year of high school his family moved from Brooklyn to Marlboro Jersey.  Still attending High School in Manhattan and his mom still working as a full time accountant in Brooklyn they would meet and train at Gleason’s gym. At sixteen Denis won the Golden Gloves representing Gleason’s Gym and was the youngest to win at Madison Square Garden.  The commute and the long hours of training started to put a strain on Denis’s school work.  His mother then decided to transfer him to high school in New Jersey and look for a gym closer to home.  This landed them at Middletown Pal in Middletown NJ, although they met some really nice people it was not the working atmosphere that they needed.  After searching other gyms they did not find the energy in a gym they were use to, so they began training in the basement of their home.  In July 2007 Saphya opened New Breed Boxing and Fitness Gym in Freehold NJ where she once again teaches young kids the fundamentals of boxing along with her nephew Naquann who is also a certified boxing coach. Denis now represents his mother’s gym.

      This mother and son dual have traveled all over the country competeting in everything the amateur boxing has to offer.  Saphya is known for giving a serious round of pads to warm her son up before his fight in heels.   Financially Saphya can not always travel with her son so she often sends him alone to compete with no planned person to work his corner. This has built a lot of character in Denis as they believe the foundation has already been laid and there are no excuses.  In the height of his amateur boxing career and everyone seeing the possibilities of Olympics Denis was in a car accident that took him out of competition for a year. Recognizing that the dream was not a reality he continued to heal and returned to boxing stronger than every. Denis has had a much decorated amateur career and now its time for him to make the transition into his pro career.

Bio

Denis is a third year college student and works as a Manager at New Breed Boxing. He has one brother and one sister. He is currently ranked #2 in the country and #1 in New Jersey. Everyone who meets him loves him and says he’s a very humble young man. Denis is a self motivated boxer who trains extremely hard. He loves the sport of boxing and vows to one day become world champ.

Denis the “Momma’s Boy”

Age: 20

Current Weight: 165lb./ Pro weight desired 160lb. or 157lbs. (or where ever he can fit in)

Current Amateur Record: 79-8

Southpaw

2x Junior Olympics

Junior Metro Championship

NY Metro Championship

New York Golden Glove Champion at sixteen

2x New Jersey Golden Gloves

2007 New Jersey Diamond Gloves

2007 Ringside Champ

2007 National Pal Champ

2008 New Jersey Golden Gloves National Champ

2008 Diamond Glove Champ

Saphya and Denis the “Momma’s Boy” where inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame November 13, 2008 as 2008 Amateur Boxer and Coach of the year.