--- title: "Belles of the Brawl V: Marissa Polichene" description: During the coming months, we?ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Belles of the Brawl V in Boston on October 5th. They?ve committed to four months of fundraising and training in preparation to get in the ring and literally fight for a cure. image: https://h4h-2018-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy/blog/post/header_image/145/Marissa_Polichene__2_.JPG --- [Donate](https://donate.haymakersforhope.org/general_donation) [![Hay Makers For hope](https://blog.haymakersforhope.org/hubfs/Haymakers_June2018/Images/logo.svg "Hay Makers For hope")](https://haymakersforhope.org/) - [Donate](https://donate.haymakersforhope.org/general_donation) - [Home](https://haymakersforhope.org/#home) - [Fight](https://haymakersforhope.org/#fight) - [Events](https://haymakersforhope.org/#events) - [News](https://haymakersforhope.org/#news) - [Shop](https://haymakersforhope.org/#shop) - [Fighter Log In](https://haymakersforhope.org/user/login) - [Home](https://haymakersforhope.org/#home) - [Fight](https://haymakersforhope.org/#fight) - [Events](https://haymakersforhope.org/#events) - [News](https://haymakersforhope.org/#news) - [Shop](https://haymakersforhope.org/#shop) [Back to blog](https://blog.haymakersforhope.org) # Belles of the Brawl V: Marissa Polichene ## Wednesday, June 28 2017 --- **During the coming months, we’ll be highlighting our fighters in training for the upcoming Belles of the Brawl V in Boston on October 5th. They’ve committed to four months of fundraising and training in preparation to get in the ring and literally fight for a cure. Whether they've had first hand experience, their father has passed or their friend has put up a victory against the disease – they’ve all got a story to tell and they’ve all got a reason to fight. Below you’ll hear from Marissa Polichene, fighting out of Redline Fight Sports in Sommerville, MA.** **Where are you from?** I’m from Mt. Airy, MD **Where’d you go to college?** University of Maryland, College Park - go Terps!! **Did you play any sports growing up?** I did everything (skating, karate, basketball), but I stuck with soccer and lacrosse through high school. **What do you do for work?** I run the Integrations Program at Toast (another Boston startup)! **Why boxing? Did you ever picture yourself fighting?** I hate running so a marathon or 5k has always been out of the question. As for boxing... well I couldn't even watch boxing on TV without getting queasy so no I never thought I'd be fighting. But at the same time I LOVE a good challenge... so here we are. **Why on earth did you sign up to fight??** Giving a back + the street cred I'd get from a black eye? How could I not? **You’re stepping in the ring to literally fight for a cure - where are you drawing your inspiration from? How has cancer affected you?** I'm drawing inspiration from a lot of sources - family, friends, my Belle-mates. You really never know what tomorrow will bring, and I find it incredibly inspiring that my participation in Haymakers today can contribute - even in some small way - to a better, more hopeful future for those who have been affected by cancer. **What is going to be the most difficult thing to give up during your training? (beer, cheeseburgers, time spent watching TV?)** All of the foods, I love to eat. And sleep - haven't been doing as much sleeping since training has started. **When you’re not throwing punches and training -- what other hobbies/interests do you have?** Traveling (I spent 5 weeks in SE Asia last October - November with my husband), hiking with my puppy Beasley, eating my way through Boston & the burbs, fitness. **Who do you think is the most excited to watch you get punched in the face come fight night?** Definitely more than one person... I'm not a charmer. But (this is going to sound terrible) probably my husband - he is insanely competitive and loves helping push me towards my goals. **Be sure to check out her fundraising page [here](https://www.haymakersforhope.org/profiles/marissa-polichene) and wish her luck! Best of luck, Marissa!** [View Previous Article](https://blog.haymakersforhope.org/2017/06/26/belles-of-the-brawl-v-adrian-wright-fitzgerald) [View Next Article](https://blog.haymakersforhope.org/2017/07/05/belles-of-the-brawl-v-cara-early) Haymakers for Hope © 2018 - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/Haymakers4Hope) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/haymakers4hope/) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/haymakers4hope) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/haymakers4hope) [Legal Terms](https://haymakersforhope.org/page/privacy-policy) 501 Boylston St. 10th Fl. Boston, MA 02116 [info@haymakersforhope.org](mailto:info@haymakersforhope.org)