MORRISEY’S BOXING & POLITICAL DIVIDE?

CONTACT: Cecelia DaCosta Email: HarlemPIRG@aol.com
HARLEM PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP http://www.harlemweekly.com/ 212.281.8457

MORRISEY’S BOXING & POLITICAL DIVIDE?

Harlem, New York- Keisha Morrisey a candidate for public office in 2002 and 2003 (NYS Assembly in the 70th AD and NYC Council 9th CD respectively), is expanding her professional horizon to include the boxing industry. Ms. Morrisey has engaged the expertise of the renowned boxing reporter Eddie Goldman and is emerging as a boxing correspondent. There is much speculation that Ms. Morrisey is designing a new generation public relations, and marketing career as an advocate for boxing and the fighting arts.


As a Correspondent for No Holds Barred (NHBNews) with Eddie Goldman Keisha has been a guest on the Joey Reynolds Show on AM radio. Touting her Public Relations Company, Ms. Morrisey adds a special quality to the show discussing events and particulars.
Keisha and Eddie Goldman(photo courtesy of Bazooka)

A single mother of a seventeen year old son and member of the controversial “hip-hop” generation Ms. Morrisey’s entry into Harlem electoral politics presented interesting possibilities and challenged pervasive political apathy and the status quo. While this emerging grassroots community leader is currently being touted as a potential candidate for elective office in 2008, Ms. Morrisey may have fortuitously found a worthy market niche to engage her professional talents, skills and interest.


When pressed on the prospect of a run for elective office in November Ms. Morrisey articulates the popular refrain of veteran politicians. “I never say, never.” But the lifelong Harlem resident has been conspicuously absent from the local mix of community based politics. Apparently, Keisha Morrisey has developed a strong affinity to the boxing industry and is exploring the vast knowledge and insight of Eddie Goldman an industry guru. For more than a year she has been on the scene at many boxing events in the capacity of correspondent with her inconspicuous camera.


Ms. Morrisey said, “Eddie Goldman is a boxing institution and I’m gaining a priceless education as a Goldman protégé. Like many of my generation, I am intrigued by professional boxing and Mixed Martial Arts.”

Perhaps Eddie Goldman is passing down his considerable boxing reporting expertise and insights to the emerging generation of industry professionals and fans. Prior to Keisha’s foray into electoral politics, she was a successful event planner, manager and public relations professional in the hip-hop music and entertainment genre. Consequential to the stardom of several artists in the “rap game” the name Keisha Morrisey is a known quantity among many notable personalities in that industry.

Ms. Morrisey said, “I want to parlay the experience and skills that I gained in the music and rap industry into the boxing and entertainment realm. My background in promotions, marketing and public relations is relevant to the growth potential of boxing, and my generation is composed of enthusiastic fans that I am reaching out to. The fan base ranges between the ages of 25 and 45 and they are excited about prospects for the future.”

Keisha Morrisey raises the hope of “Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)” coming to New York as an objective that she is interested in helping to establish in the state. Ms. Morrisey said, “I am exploring the feasibility of developing a campaign to lobby for MMA in New York State. My experience as a candidate for public office may be the kind of exposure that is useful in developing a successful grassroots political campaign to lobby for an expansion of boxing and fighting sports, which will inspire a rebirth of the industry. If my lobbying campaign is successful perhaps that achievement would encourage and inspire me to run for public office again.”


Although some suggest that boxing is currently in its darkest days in terms of general popularity and attendance Ms. Morrisey, who is often referred to as “El Boxing Empress” among people in the game, believes that she brings the necessary ingredients to help the industry’s renaissance.

According to El Boxing Empress, “The advent of a young Black American woman in the reporting, promotion, marketing and public relations aspects of boxing industry may be A-typical, and maybe uncomfortable at times. But trust me, I represent one of the new faces in an emerging boxing and mixed martial arts industry.”

Keisha Morrisey is currently the Director of Events and Publicity for KMPR. Keisha is also a member of USA Boxing Metro, and participates as a volunteer clerk and announcer, while training to be a professional judge. She is developing an Internet presence at http://www.bloodlineboxingentertainment.blogspot.com/ and http://www.keishamorrisey.com/ and www.myspace.com/keishadivine and www.youtube.com/ELEmpress1 and Eddie Goldman; No Holds Barred blog http://nhbnews.blogspot.com/ No Holds Barred pod cast http://nhbnews.podomatic.com/ No Holds Barred on MySpace.com http://www.myspace.com/nhbnews