2016 UCA Year in Review

2016 brought some very exciting moments to public safety boxing. The year was a true test of endurance as fighters traveled from different states to compete against the best in the country. It was a busy year with many surprises. New champions were crowned and heartbreak was felt. The fighters reminded us all that you never give up because until the final bell rings everything can change. The year brought some very exciting moments in UCA boxing. Let’s take a look back at what made 2016 a memorable year.

UCA Promoter of the Year – Jeff Penn, SoCal Battle of the Badges
One who is respected and experienced in putting together the biggest fights with the biggest names. A production that can be compared to professional boxing event. Events that are held in fan friendly venues and everyone is guaranteed a good time.

UCA Event of the Year – SoCal Battle of the Badges, Pacific Palms Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
Some of the biggest names competed in front of a SOLD OUT crowd at the beautiful Pacific Palms Hotel, Los Angeles. 5 UCA Championship title fights saw 3 new champions crowned along with an action packed under-card. Fund raising efforts benefited the Firefighters Cancer Foundation, Project 999, which provides financial assistance to the families of officers killed in the line of duty. The Santa Ana Unidos Boxing Club, Perris Valley Thai Boxing and Cops 4 Kids & Communities.

UCA Fighter of the Year – Brent Bugarin, Santa Clara Sheriff’s Dept. First 2 Division Champion (Welterweight & Jr Middleweight)
A fighter who directly impacts Public Safety boxing by the way he performs in the ring. A fighter who stood out from the rest and proved they are the best by challenging and defeating anyone who was put in front of them.

UCA Coach of the Year
A coach who has the knowledge and experience to unlock a fighters true potential and mold them into a champion. There are a lot of critical factors that make a champion, having a great coach is the most important one.

Mando Guzman – Coach of the UCA Cruiserweight Champion Brian Stevens, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. and the UCA Super Cruiserweight Champion Alan Rojas, Los Angeles Sheriff Dept.

Jorge Gonzalez – Coach of the UCA Welterweight Champion Mike Delery, LAPD, the UCA Super Middleweight Champion Quincy Mirage, LAPD, and the former UCA Middleweight Champion Hector Mendoza, LAPD

Arvin Jugarap – Coach of the UCA 2 Division undefeated Jr Middleweight Champion Brent Bugarin, Santa Clara Sheriff’s Dept.

Vance Bejarano – Coach of the UCA Light Heavyweight Champion Travon Taylor, Orange County Sheriff’s Dept.

Nasser Niavaroni – Coach of the Masters UCA Super Cruiserweight Champion Chuck Pfau, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Dept.

Sparky McDuffie – Coach of the Masters UCA Heavyweight Champion James Moore, Monroe Louisiana Fire Dept.

Steve Salas – Coach of the UCA Middleweight Champion Travis Clark, Stockton Police Dept.

Robert Espinosa -Coach of the UCA Welterweight Champion Asiah Medawar, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept.

UCA Biggest Most Memorable Fights of 2016
Fights that undoubtedly will be talked about years from now. While most fights come and go these memorable battles will live on through the ages and become a part of UCA Boxing History.

James Moore, Monroe Louisiana FD defeated Michael Banks, CDCR CCC to become the first out of state (Masters UCA Heavyweight Champion) UCA Champion. Central California Battle of the Badges 4-9-16 Hanford Civic Auditorium, Hanford CA.

Travis Clark, Stockton PD defeated Hector Mendoza, LAPD to win the UCA Middleweight title and become the first fighter to win a UCA title in his 2nd fight. SoCal Battle of the Badges 10-1-16, Pacific Palms Hotel

Brent Bugarin, Santa Clara SD defeated the former reigning and defending UCA Jr Middleweight Champion Dusty Rodriguez, Santa Monica FD by decision to become the first 2 division (Welterweight & Jr Middleweight) UCA Champion. SoCal Battle of the Badges 10-1-16, Pacific Palms Hotel

Alan Rojas, LASD defeated one of the most feared and talked about fighters in Chris Barrios, LASD. Rojas would stop Barrios in the 2nd round to become the undisputed, undefeated, reigning and defending UCA Super Cruiserweight Champion and end Barrios 10 fight undefeated winning streak. LA Battle of the Badges 5-20-16, Pacific Palms Hotel

2016 Fighters Who Received the Highest Public Safety Boxing Honor

And The New UCA Champion

Asiah Medawar, SBSD, UCA Welterweight Champion

Brent Bugarin, SCSD, UCA Jr Middleweight (10-1-16)

Mike Delery, LAPD, UCA Welterweight Champion

Hector Mendoza, LAPD, UCA Middleweight Champion (4-9-16)

Travis Clark, Stockton PD, UCA Middleweight Champion (10-1-16)

Quincy Mirage, LASD, UCA Super Middleweight Champion

Chuck Pfau, Sacramento SD, Masters UCA Super Cruiserweight Champion

James Moore, Monroe Louisiana FD, Masters UCA Heavyweight Champion

Sean Johnson. CDCR, Kern Valley State Prison

And Still UCA Champion

Dusty Rodriguez, SMFD UCA Jr Middleweight Champion (4-9-16)

Travon Taylor, OCSD UCA Light Heavyweight Champion

Brian Stevens, LASD UCA Cruiserweight Champion

Alan Rojas, LASD UCA Super Cruiserweight Champion

UCA Fights of the Year
A fight that delivers the most exciting back and forth battle that has fans cheering and on the edge of their seat. These fights symbolize what public safety boxing stands for.

Mike Valle, CDCR, Pleasant Valley State Prison vs Martin Gutierrez, Lemoore Police Dept.

Josh Webb, CHP vs Jeremy Parker, CDCR, CSP Sac

Mike Delery, LAPD vs David Bermudez, East Bay Regional Parks PD

Hector Mendoza, LAPD vs Remin Pineda, LASD

UCA Breakout Fighter of the Year
A fighter who steps into the ring for the first time and wins over the crowd with skill, heart and personality. One you can’t wait to see fight again.

Mike Valle – CDCR Pleasant Valley State Prison

Martin Gutierrez – Lemoore Police Dept.

Nate Webb – U.S. Navy

Tyler Kiest – CDCR Blythe

Cody Anderson – Rincon Fire Dept.

Eddie Duran – Orange County Sheriff’s Dept.

Fighters to Keep an Eye On

Denise Guerrero – San Bernardino Police Dept.

Guillermo Garcia, LAPD

Alberto DeLeon – CDCR Blythe

Mike Ortiz – U.S. Army

Devon Dejoie – U.S. Navy

Jon Byun – LAPD

Rafael DeLeon – U.S. Border Patrol

Daniel Rosales – LAPD

William Adams – Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept

Gilbert Galvan – U.S. Army

Richard Rodriguez – Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept.

Elijah Vidal – U.S.M.C.

Jonathon Alvarez – New York Police Dept.

Austin Tull – Shreveport Louisiana Fire Department

Joe Slouka – Orange County Sheriff’s Dept.

Joey Valencia – Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept.

Chris Seelig – Rialto Police Dept.

Anthony Deshautelle – Alexandria Louisiana Police Dept.

Alex Duran – U. S. Border Patrol

Claudio Gutierrez – LAPD

Christian Pharo – San Diego Fire Dept.

Jonathon Roberts – Natchitoches Louisiana Police Dept.

Deserves a Title Shot

Deirdre Fonseca, LAPD

Dennis Burgos, New York Police Dept.

Remin Pineda – LASD

Henry Sanchez – San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept.

Josh Webb, CHP

Marqus Blevins, Kings County Probation

UCA Upset of the Year

A fighter who enters a contest a considerable favorite and is defeated by a less experienced, unknown or unranked fighter.

(3) Mike Delery, LAPD defeated (1) David Bermudez, East Bay Regional Parks PD to win the UCA Welterweight Title.

(3) Remin Pineda, LASD defeated (1) Hector Mendoza, LAPD

UCA Performance of the Year
A fighter who displays exceptional skills in a near flawless performance

Brian Stevens, LASD made his 3rd title defense by defeating Guillermo Garcia, LAPD

UCA Announcer of the Year – Carlton Jones, Fresno City Fire Dept.

UCA DJ of the Year – DJ Prince

UCA Photographer of the Year – Ray Delgado and Chris Adkins

UCA Videographer of the Year – Fernando Vargas

UCA Boxing Gym of the Year – City of Angels, Los Angeles, CA

UCA Sponsor of the Year – Sabas Fightgear

2017 UCA Dream Title Fights

Shant Sheklanian, Madera PD vs BJ Adkins, (West Virginia) Raleigh County Sheriff’s Dept. (UCA Jr Welterweight Championship)

Mike Delery, LAPD vs Chris Martinez, Fresno Police Dept. (UCA Welterweight Championship)

David Bermudez, East Bay Regional Parks PD vs Dusty Rodriguez, Santa Monica FD (UCA Jr Middleweight Championship)

Travis Clark, Stockton PD vs DJ Vargas, Hanford PD (UCA Middleweight Championship)

Quincy Mirage, LAPD vs Mike Valle, CDCR Pleasant Valley Prison (UCA Super Middleweight Championship)

Chuck Pfau, Sacramento County SD vs Chip Stevens, Monroe Louisiana FD (UCA Jr Cruiserweight Championship)

Alan Rojas, LASD vs Josh Webb, CHP (UCA Super Cruiserweight Championship)

Mike Frazier, LASD vs Marqus Blevins, Kings County Probation (UCA Heavyweight Championship)

Jaboy Leomitti, LASD vs Carlos Rosas, LAPD (UCA Super Heavyweight Championship)

UCA Rumors

Brent Bugarin, Santa Clara SD is dropping to 140lbs to pick up his 3rd title.

Quincy Mirage, LAPD is moving up to the (175lbs) Light Heavyweight Division to capture his 2nd title.

The former #1 ranked UCA Title Challenger Jamaal Braithwaite, Orange County Sheriff’s Dept. will make his return to the ring.

The former #1 ranked, undefeated Jorge Salazar, Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept. is calling out the undisputed, reigning and defending UCA Cruiserweight Champion Brian Stevens, LASD.

The former undefeated reigning and defending UCA Super Heavyweight Champion Chris Lewis, Fresno Sheriff’s Dept. will make his professional boxing debut

As another year on the boxing calendar draws to a close, 2016 will be remembered as one of the most remarkable years in the history of public safety boxing. The talent pool continues to grow and 2017 promises to be a year full of great fights. Title fight contracts are being drawn up for some great super fights between the best fighters in the country. See you in the New Year.