The King Stays King

The Main Event of Saturday night’s Battle of the Badges at the Hanford Civic Auditorium featured the best Super Heavyweights in California. #1 ranked Pierce Masse – Fresno PD vs the Champion Chris Lewis – Fresno SD for the UCA Super Heavyweight  Championship. The small ring used for this night’s event would be made to look even smaller when these two large men stepped into it. The challenger, Pierce Masse calmly made his way to the ring with a focused look on his face. Johnny Cash’s, “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” played slow and steady in the background. The champion, Chris Lewis, would come in pumped up and energetic; bouncing and bobbing his head to a track rapped by Drake. At the bell, these two big men sized up one another as they circled the ring. Both of them planning on just how they would open up their attacks. Then all of a sudden, the battle broke out. A jabbing Lewis landed a thunderous right hand that let off a loud boom heard all through the venue.  Masse took it well, but would be sent back to the ropes as the champ charged at him. Caught in a tangle, both fighters tussled as they leaned on the ropes. The ring seemed about to give in and collapse where their combined weight would press. But just then, the champ would get back his distance; he jabbed his way outside and fought off his back foot. The ex-star football player was athletic and quite nimble for such a big man. He would let Masse make his way into range and catch him on the head and body with powerful right hands and left hooks. Masse would shake off the punches and keep coming forward. Masse would then utilize his advantage in reach and land his long left jab and right cross from the outside. To negate Pierce’s superior reach, Chris changed up his positioning and ripped uppercuts and left hooks to Masse’s body and head on the inside. But Pierce would press on. Then the champ would change it up again, and get back to the outside. He worked some flashy, quick feet as he circled away from the challenger’s reach. Lewis was elusive and avoided a scary, huge right hand from Masse to close out the 2nd. Well behind on the scorecards, the challenger Masse, had no choice but to keep coming forward and forcing the action. He caught up to the champion with his longer arms and landed some big 1, 2’s from outside. Those punches were not only heard, but could somehow also be felt by the spectating crowd who was cringing. He then closed the distance, forcing Lewis into the corner. The ring and ropes rattled. Both fighters would push and exchange punches in close proximity. Neither man going backward. In the closing seconds, both fighters hurled bombs at one another, and went at it full tilt. Masse showed off his own power and finished strong, but it was too late. The final bell sounded. And still UCA Super Heavyweight Champion Chris Lewis – Fresno SD.

With the success over the past two years, the UCA is proud to announce they will be returning to the Hanford Auditorium for another four years, with the next event April 9, 2016.