Oct 2009 02
Rocky goes for the punch and jab. It’s not Balboa, it’s Davalos. Twenty-seven year old fireman, Rocco Davalos, a.k.a. Rocky, of the Sacramento City Fire Dept. has been training in anticipation of the 6th annual Battle of the Badges scheduled to take place at Raley Field, October 10th, 2009. Rocky says, “I thought it would be fun but it’s primarily about the Firefighters Burn Institute.” Although he had never taken up boxing prior to signing on to participate in this charitable sporting event, he is often looking for new ways to keep in shape. The 6’4″ 240 pound firefighter has been training specifically for his match over the past three months and is looking forward to the experience.
After becoming familiar with Sacramento’s firefighter procedures as a volunteer, Rocco became an official part of the team about three years ago. When asked if he views firefighting as a dangerous job, Rocco stated that “I’ve never actually feared for my life … but the dangers of the job aren’t on the forefront of my mind.” “It’s not a focus as long as a firefighter keeps his wits and remembers to maintain the safety procedures … and we have others watching out for us.” The charity boxer made it clear that good teamwork and training are huge factors in keeping firefighters safe.

 

Rocco is the only contender from the Sac City F.D. this year but he watched his friends participate in prior years. His three-round bout is scheduled as a match with Michael Gomez with CSP Sac. Who will you cheer for? How about the three charities being benefited – Firefighters Burn Institute, Sac Sheriff’s Toy Project, and the Sacramento Fallen Officers Resource Fund.

Another contender stepping in to punch up the proceeds for these charities is Officer Rick Turner of the CA Highway Patrol. Rick has practiced boxing in his workouts through the years and decided to return for some more fun after his 2008 match held at the Memorial Auditorium. As a highway patrolman, he has had occasion to help travelers stranded on the shoulder of the highway with flat tires and provide assistance to accident victims too confused or hurt to know what steps to take to get a car towed, file a report, or handle the repercussions of a collision. Rick is a forty-year old public servant with three years experience and a lot of pride in his role at the CA Highway Patrol. After working a number of years at Aerospace as an engineer for space satellites, he decided to change into a career that he assumed would “never have a dull moment” and give him the opportunity to help people. According to Turner, the job “surpassed his expectations” for enjoyment and sense of service. He is currently stationed at the State Capitol where he protects the governor and state employees and patrols the grounds. This “prestigious assignment,” that has been a task assigned to the State Police in former years, came after extensive interviews to establish his suitability for the position.

The battle starts at 6:30 pm and you can cheer for 6’2″ 225 pound, quiet charmer “Slick” Rick during his boxing bout when he will battle Cris “Heavy Hands” Garrison of the CSP-Sacramento in the eighth event scheduled for the evening. Eager Rocco the “Mad Medic” Davalos is expected to battle in the twelfth event before the main match featuring James “Lights Out” Dorris of Folsom P.D. pitted against Larry “Cyco” Ward of CMF-Vacaville.

This final and highlighted event is actually a rematch and if Larry Ward has been following thirty-four year old Dorris’ training routine he would be busy six days a week, three hours a day conditioning, strengthening, and sparring. It’s a sport to which this officer dedicates himself with drive in the same manner he fulfills his role in law enforcement.

James Dorris has been with the Folsom Police Dept. for five years, and the Contra Costa County Sheriff Dept. five years prior. He is participating in the Battle of the Badges as a continued love for the sport of boxing that began as a boy who idolized Holyfield. Like many other everyday heroes who get up in the morning and don their respective badges, Dorris started his career in law enforcement as a means to assist people as well as fulfill his desire for daily challenges. He says, “every day is different … and its about helping people when there is a call for service … which can be someone who thinks there’s an intruder in their home, responding to calls about DUIs, or domestic violence victims … there’s a huge range of calls.”

Dorris has won gold for super-heavyweight in Idaho’s 2008 Western States Police and Fire Games, and after dropping twenty-five pounds, the heavyweight gold in Santa Clarita 2009 games. When queried about the various levels of experience and training for contenders in this year’s Battle of the Badges, he said, “they all deserve full respect … any fighter who puts himself in the ring in front of thousands of people to represent their department and for the benefit of charities deserves respect. … it requires a lot of time and training” and in the morning, after the bouts are done, they all go back to their public service duties.

And for the fans of lady fighters, two matches will star Nina Nunez, CMF-Vacaville versus Julie “The J Cat” Williams CSP-San Quentin, and Stephanie Johnson, Clarksburg F.D. versus Kelly McKinnon, Mule Creek State Prison. Go ladies!! Tickets are available at the Raley Field box office in West Sacramento for $25-30 where the event is otherwise known as Raley Field Rumble. If you love boxing or just love our public servants and would like to support their charities, be sure not to miss the battling, badge-wearing fighters punching it out for a good cause.

Written by the Examiner.com