The most competitive division in Public Safety boxing has to be the Jr. Middleweights. The athleticism and talent in this division is solid from top to bottom. Sitting at #1 is David Bermudez, an open fighter from East Bay Regional Parks PD. If Jorge Caamal, LASD were to drop to Jr. Middleweight he would take over the #1 spot since he has a win over Bermudez. Add Caamal to the division and it’s that much stronger. Sitting at #2 is DJ Vargas the slick boxing southpaw from Avenal PD.  3^rd ranked Logan Burns, U.S. National Guard came onto the Public Safety boxing scene in the SoCal Battle of the Badges, July 2012 beating the highly talented Dustin Rodriguez. Burns is a well rounded fighter with the skill and talent to become a champion.  4th ranked Dustin Rodriguez, Santa Monica FD suffered his first defeat to Burns. Rodriguez is a young talented fighter who has a bright future in the sport. 5^th ranked Angel Vasquez, LASD is not an easy opponent for anyone and has faced some tough competition. Vasquez is most remembered for his two epic battles with Ray Encinas, LAPD. 6^th ranked Carlos Cabrera, Sac Co SD continues to improve and poses a threat to everyone in the division. 7^th ranked Anthony Carrasco, Palo Alto PD is another young talented fighter with a lot of upside.  8^th ranked Guerra Gonzales is with the LASD Boxing team and may have the talent to make a run at the title. 9^th ranked Joseph Flahaven, Glendale Fire Dept became an instant prospect winning the gold medal in the 2011 Police Olympics. Flahaven can be a surprise in the division. 10th ranked Joey Deluca, AMR Riverside shows a lot of potential.

Hank Nagamine was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.  Hank holds several distinctions going into the California Boxing Hall of Fame. He is the first Asian boxer to be inducted and also the first peace officer to be honored.

Hanks story started in his native Hawaii where he first donned boxing gloves. At the age of 18 he joined the Army’s 3^rd All-Hawaiian outfit and was sent to Germany.

His boxing skills were good enough to win All-Service Tournaments in Europe and the U.S.   In 1962 he moved to Los Angeles and turned pro under the tutelage of “Derby” Duke Holloway and Sammy Sanders. Following a short ring career, Hank joined the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

Besides his duties as an undercover detective in the Asian detail, he also coached various boxing programs for the Sheriff’s Department.

Hank “Okinawa Assassin” Nagamine retired as a peace officer with honors in 1997 and is still a coach with the LASD Boxing team.

Hank is a big supporter of Public Safety boxing; he and his wife Jane attended the Sacramento Battle of the Badges October 6, 2012. Hank helped out at the event, giving advice and wrapping the hands of two fighters and those fighters won. “I have a special way of wrapping hands” Hank said.

James Smith, CHP and Aurelio Vasquez, LAPD received the well deserved UCA Fight of Night award from their display of heart, determination, toughness and warrior spirit. Smith, and Vasquez, gave the Battle of the Badges fans what they wanted to see, two highly skilled fighters throwing caution to the wind and laying it all on the line. This was not a slugfest; this was a strategic hard fought battle. Smith and Vasquez brought their competitive spirit, talent and skills into the ring and brought it to life in the face of adversity. No matter what the circumstances were, backing down was not an option. When things got tough they never faded, they pushed through the discomfort and never quit.  Smith and Vasquez left themselves vulnerable to being hurt in exchange for victory. Both fighters learned something about themselves that night and the fans learned something too. It takes a special person to step through those ropes. Congratulations, James Smith, California Highway Patrol and Aurelio Vasquez, Los Angeles Police Department.

Cleon Jones, Yolo Co Corrections. 4^th Ranked Super Heavyweight

“Well I got back into the gym for the first time this week since my fight. (Oct 6, 2012 Battle of the Badges) It felt real good to get back into it. I have plenty of time to train for the next one.  Look for a new more in shape skilled fighter. 2013 is my year, believe that.”

Brace yourself, the Fight for Life Boxing card is stacked with great fighters. 12 bouts, including the undefeated, Pound for Pound #1 ranked Super Cruiserweight Chris “The Bull” Barrios, LASD taking on Alex Perez, LAPD.

In the  Co-Main Event the undefeated UCA Cruiserweight Champion Brian Stevens, LASD will face off with Mike Barragan, LAPD.

In a fight that seems to be a lock for Fight of the Night,  5^th ranked Angel Vasquez, LASD will meet 4^th ranked Ray Encinas, LAPD for the 3^rd time. Both fighters have a win over each other and will be laying it all on the line to prove they are the better fighter in the rubber-match.

Super Cruiserweights Jeff Flotree, LASD and George Lopez, LAPD two seasoned veterans with more fights than everyone on the card combined will battle it out once again.  

Also on the card, 7^th ranked Erik “The Lone Wolf” Ramirez, LASD will be taking on tough Quincy Mirage, LAPD.

Plus 8^th ranked Guerrero “Pedro” Gonzales, LASD will be looking for another victory when he takes on Eriverto Montano, LAPD.

The current 4^th ranked Light Heavyweight Aurelio Vasquez, LAPD will be stepping back into the ring after winning Fight of the Night honors in the Sacramento Battle of the Badges Oct 6, 2012. Vasquez is dropping down to the Super Middleweight division to take on 8^th ranked Roman Mercado, LASD. This fight could steal Fight of the Night from Vasquez and Encinas.

Female fighters will also be featured on this card when 3^rd ranked Roxanne Chavez, LASD takes on Officer Guillen, Burbank PD and Francine Rizzio, LASD vs. Shannon Lopez, LAPD. This card features some of the best Public Safety fighters in California. The fighters are training hard to put on a great night of boxing for the fans.

Fight Card

Bout 1, 125lbs  3^rd ranked Roxanne Chavez, LASD vs. Officer Guillen, Burbank PD

Bout 2, 165lbs   Francine Rizzio, LASD vs. Shannon Lopez, LAPD

Bout 3, 190lbs Ernie Ferras, LASD vs. Ruben Rosas, LAPD

Bout 4, 160lbs David Chung, LASD vs.  Miguel Mejia, LAPD

Bout 5, 190lbs Clay Grant, LASD vs. Chuck Wampler, LAPD

Bout 6, 154lbs 8^th Guerrero “Pedro” Gonzales, LASD vs. Eriverto Montano, LAPD

Bout 7, 168lbs 8th ranked Roman Mercado vs. 4^th ranked Aurelio Vasquez, LAPD

Bout 8, 165lbs 7^th ranked  Erik Ramirez, LASD vs. Quincy Mirage, LAPD

Bout 9, 205lbs Jeff Flotree, LASD vs. George Lopez, LAPD

Bout 10, 154lbs 5^th ranked Angel Vasquez, LASD vs. 4^th ranked Ray Encinas, LAPD

Bout 11, 190lbs UCA Champion, Brian Stevens, LASD vs. Mike Barragan, LAPD

Bout 12, 205lbs #1 ranked Chris Barrios, LASD vs. Alex Perez, LAPD

Fight Like a Girl – December 1, 2012 Pala Casino

Bout 1-125lbs

Marisol “Maravillosa” Gonzalez, TJTD (International) vs Audi Vasquez, Riverside EMT

Bout 2 – 135lbs

Claudia “The Latin Heat” Gomez, State Bros. Loss Prevention vs. Livi “The Queen of Sting” Coco, Orange Co Sheriff’s Dept

Bout 3 – 130lbs

Amber Reilly, Riverside County AMR vs. Wenndy “Brickhouse” Gonzalez, Riverside Co Sheriff’s Dept

Bout 4 – 180lbs

Yesenia “Ms. Inferno” Tufnell, U.S. Forest Service vs. Paula Arriaga, Pala EMT

Bout 5 – 125lbs

Sherry Estevez, Moreno Valley C.E.R.T vs. Sherrene “Wildfire” Flores, U.S. Forest Service

Bout 6 – 160lbs

Jessica “Tinee Dinomite” Loomer, Alleluia Bail Bonds vs. Juanita Aragon, Morongo Public Safety

Bout 7 – 160lbs

Lorraine Chacon, CDCR CIW vs. Laurie “The Unknown” Duenas, Riverside Co Sheriff’s Dept

Bout 8 – 155lbs

Sarina ‘Sweet Pea” Delgado, ARM Hemet vs. Alex Flores, Orange Co Sheriff’s Dept

Co-Main Event – 135lbs

Rachel “One &” Dunn, C4KC vs. 2^nd ranked, Selina “The Native” Velasquez, Soboba Public Safety. “One & Dunn” may have the best female nickname in the game however it may take more than one round to get “The Native” out of there. Velasquez will be looking to get back in the win column after losing to the undefeated, 2^nd ranked Welterweight Janie Cozie, SBPD.

Main Event – 155lbs

3^rd ranked, Alison Jablonsky, Orange Co Sheriff’s Dept vs. #1 ranked, Margaret “The Handler” Stewart, LAFD. Jablonsky may be a surprise to Public Safety boxing. She is coming off a big win over the former #1 ranked Super Middleweight Yesenia Nelson, CDCR Chino. She represents Orange Co Sheriff’s Dept and they produce great fighters. Steward is also coming off a big win over LAPD’s 2^nd ranked Shannon Lopez. This will be a big test for both fighters.

Is Williams coming out of retirement? “I’m ready for Williams vs. Gomez II. Lol, no, I’ll let him run things, I had my time (Bryan Williams, Fresno PD, defeated (decision) Mike Gomez, CDCR CSP SAC Aug 20, 2011, that was Williams last fight) “I keep the itch. I’m hitting it hard, I train and spar everyday. I’m addicted. I still want to fight but I don’t want to seem selfish towards my stable of fighters.” Bryan Williams.

Williams had an opportunity to hang out with Roger Mayweather and compare and share training tips, methods and techniques. “Roger is very cool, down to earth guy, very personable,” Bryan said.

Armando “Mando” Guzman, a long time resident of Los Angeles and trainer of the “Lite It up Boxing Team” has always loved the sport of boxing. Armando boxed for the LASD team for about 20 years, winning the Gold Medal in the Police Olympics twice and a Bronze Medal in the World Police & Fire Games. Mando learned his craft from trainers like Clemente Medina, and the late Hall of Famer, Emanuel Steward. Mando had the great opportunity to run the “Youth Boxing Program” for the LA County Sheriff’s Department for about 25 years. Now the trainer of the “Light It up Boxing Team,” he trains professional and amateur boxers. Some of the professional fighters that have trained in his gym are Roberto Duran, Marco Antonia Barrera, Oscar De La Hoya, Chiquita Gonzalez, and Carlos Famoso Hernandez. Armando trained Jesus Ruiz for the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship and trained Famoso Hernandez, as well.  Aside from training pros and top amateurs he is involved in training some of the deputies for the LA Sheriff’s Department, one being the undefeated UCA Cruiserweight Champion, Brian Stevens. Other LASD fighters under Mando’s tutelage are undefeated 5^th ranked Super Cruiserweight Allan Rojas and undefeated 8^th ranked Super Heavyweight Eddie Martinez.

For more information about Armando Guzman and his contributions to boxing go to www.liteitupboxing.com On his website, he posts interviews with boxing personalities and other celebrities; for true boxing fans check out his personal memorabilia collection.