FDNY Officers Balance Firefighting Duties with Professional Boxing Careers
Two New York City firefighters are stepping into the boxing ring while maintaining their demanding roles as first responders.
Two members of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) are juggling their life-saving duties with careers as professional boxers. Firefighters Raymond Cuadrado and Louis Maietta are set to compete in separate bouts this Saturday at the Paramount Theater in Huntington, Long Island.
Cuadrado, an undefeated 8-0 super lightweight, spoke about the mental discipline required to train after completing 24-hour shifts. "It's all about just having the mental discipline of powering through and getting a workout in after working a 24-hour shift," Cuadrado said.
He returns to the ring after a nearly three-year absence, facing his most challenging opponent to date, Efstathios Antonas, who has more experience and has been more active in recent years. "He's not a slouch, and so this is a big step up for me — a big challenge for me," Cuadrado stated.
Maietta, a super middleweight from the Bronx, is preparing for a matchup against Eduardo Monrreal. Maietta, nicknamed "Il Martello" (The Hammer), expressed confidence in his fighting style, similar to his opponent's "knockout artist" approach. Maietta has frequently fought at the Paramount Theater, considering it his "home away from home."
Both men pursued firefighting careers from a young age. Maietta, 32, serves in an East Harlem engine company, while Cuadrado's company responds to calls across Queens.
Their demanding jobs have occasionally impacted their boxing careers. Maietta recalled a hip injury sustained during a fire that led to time away from training, though he has otherwise been fortunate. Cuadrado, who became a probationary firefighter in 2023, deliberately took a break from boxing to avoid injury before achieving tenure.
Despite the challenges, both boxers prioritize their roles as firefighters and have found support within the FDNY. Cuadrado, who helps train the FDNY's amateur boxing team, sometimes trains at the firehouse during lulls. Maietta's superiors accommodate his fight schedule, and fellow FDNY members often attend his matches.
Boxing is a familial pursuit for both Cuadrado and Maietta. Cuadrado trained under his father, Ray, who now serves as his cut man. Maietta is the grandson of boxer and promoter Joe DeGuardia, founder of the Morris Park Boxing gym where Maietta trained early in his career.