In one of Sharon High’s many art rooms, Mr. Schifone teaches his students the correct techniques for sculpting three-dimensional art pieces. However, the art teacher has an incredible alternate identity—he’s a professional boxer.

Mr. Schifone became interested in boxing early in his life. Growing up in Brockton, he faced bullying and often had to fight to stand up for himself. One of his friends, who liked to box, would frequently take him to the local boxing gym to work on his self-defense skills. Mr. Schifone’s father was a Stoughton firefighter at the time and was good friends with a boxing trainer, Joe Ennis. He introduced his son to Ennis, and from then on, Mr. Schifone would train weekly to become the best boxer he could be. 

Growing up, Mr. Schifone says that boxing allowed him to turn the challenges he faced into an advantage. “Boxing kind of allowed me to get some of those aggressions out that you have as a child and channel those aggressions towards something positive for myself,” Mr. Schifone said. “It allowed me to focus on something and work towards a goal, and it taught me how to compete at a high-level sport.”

Mr. Schifone was very successful in his boxing career, achieving many victories at the amateur level and even placing second or third in national competitions. “It also allowed me to travel and see much of the country,” Mr. Schifone said. “I’d represent the team New England and it was quite the experience. As I got older, I was on a TV show at one point, and I even went professional and did that for a short time.”

In addition to his love for boxing, Mr. Schifone has always had an interest in art. While learning how to box, he decided to become a professional tattoo artist, allowing him to share his passion with others. Finding time to juggle his tattoos with his punches while also becoming a teacher was no easy task, but Mr. Schifone believes that he should put full effort into everything he does.

On top of his interests in boxing and art, he has always loved teaching others, just as his trainer Joe Ennis taught him how to box and how to be a better person. Mr. Schifone wants to be as inspiring to his students as Ennis was to him, sharing his art expertise and helping them grow as individuals. At SHS, he teaches AP 3D Studio Art, a college-level course that teaches students how to tell stories through art. “I’ve always known since I was in high school that I wanted to be a teacher, and I just love the relationships that I have with the students,” Mr. Schifone said. “Watching them grow as students makes me happy.” 

Mr. Schifone says his passions have helped him be a better person in different ways. Boxing has taught him to work hard and to stay focused on his goals. It has also taught him to be resilient inside and outside the ring: when he gets hit, he regains his composure and gets back up. This applies to his life outside of boxing, too—even when life is challenging or doesn’t go your way, he says, it is essential not to let that stop you from persevering. Teaching at SHS has also improved him as an individual. “The dedication that it takes to be a good boxer is similar to what a lot of students and teachers must have to succeed in life,” Mr. Schifone said. 

Gerald Schifone in his first professional fight on the TV show “The Fighters”

Photo by TV show “The Fighters”

For more information about Mr. Schifone’s boxing stats, visit BoxRec, which contains his amateur and pro boxing statistics.  

Mr. Schifone is looking for donations for Sharon High’s Boxing Club. If you have any boxing equipment that you would like to donate, please email him directly. Equipment could be anything from handwraps to heavy bags. Every donation is appreciated.