Aug 2011 10

Battle of the Badges VIII, a charity boxing event, will take place Saturday, August 20, 2011 in Citrus Heights, as 22 law enforcement, firefighter and military personnel participate in the all new boxing series.

Battle of the Badges Sacramento, an organization of public safety and military amateur boxing, benefits numerous local charities on recommendation from the fighters. A handful of Correctional Officers from Folsom’s two prisons are slated for fight night, including 6-foot, 1-inch, 260-pound Super Heavyweight Mike Gomez in the main event.

Gomez fought in last year’s 2010 event at Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, where we won in a TKO in about one minute, thirty seconds.

The main event will feature Gomez against Bryan Williams of Fresno Police Department. Gomez has worked at new Folsom prison for four years. Gomez has a black belt in Chinese Hung Gar Kung Fu and is working on another in Shou Shu, a form of kung fu self defense.

“It’s going to be a bunch of cops beating the hell out of each other,” said Gomez with a laugh. “Getting in shape has been brutal. I expect to go in there and do the best I can and have fun while doing it. [Williams] is pretty good; he’s been boxing a long time. I guess this is his last fight, so it should be a good one to watch.”

Javier Banuelos and Chris McElroy are fighting out of the Red Corner as the two other new Folsom Prison Officers competing. James Davis, an Officer from Folsom State Prison, will fight out of the Red Corner.

All of the fighters from the two Folsom Prisons fought at least once previously with Battle of the Badges.

McElroy fought at the 2009 event at Raley Field in Sacramento. He weighs about 215 pounds and will be fighting David Richardson (212 pounds) of CDCR Solano Prison.

Banuelos (190) trains at Niavaroni Kickboxing and was awarded the most exciting fighter at the Battle of the Badges VII last year in Sacramento. He is fighting Brenden Reavis (190), a Child Protective Service Officer, in what Montes said should be one of the night’s most exciting fights.

Weigh-ins will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Folsom Lake Sports Bar and Saturday’s fights around 6:30 p.m. at Liquid Nightclub in Citrus Heights. A pre-fight ceremony honoring fallen officers, firefighters and soldiers will precede Saturday’s events.