Nothing can beat the excitement and passion boxing brings to a rivalry. Intense rivalries are one of the things that make boxing special and worth watching and Public Safety Boxing has had some good ones. When rivals square off, records don’t matter, fighters they lost to or beat in the past is irrelevant. Rematches and trilogies are like a championship fight. You can be confident that each fighter is going to bring their best effort, and leave everything they have in the ring. In some cases a rematch provides action and drama equal to or surpassing the original encounter. Some have resulted in the same outcome and some have fallen short of expectations. Here are some of the most intense and intriguing rivalries in Public Safety boxing.

Bryan Williams – Fresno PD Vs. Torris Epps-Huntington Park PD

8-1-1997 -Epps winner by decision

6-26-1998 -Williams winner by decision

Jorge Caamal – LASD Vs. Andrew Rodarte – LASD

5-15-2005 -Caamal winner by decision

6-11-2004 -Caamal winner by decision

James Dorris – Folsom PD Vs. Larry Ward – CDCR CMF

10-4-2008 -Ward 2^nd rd TKO

10-10-2009 -Ward winner 1^st rd TKO

Carlos Cabrera – Sacramento Co. SD Vs. Larry Fernandez – CDCR Solano

10-10-2009 -Fernandez winner by dec

8-28-2010 -Cabrera winner by dec

Chris Barrios – LASD Vs. Juan Bustamante – LAPD

3-26-2010 -Barrios winner 3^rd rd TKO

2-24-2011 -Barrios winner by decision

Shay Burke – Petaluma FD Vs. Ricky Seward – Big Bear City FD

5-21-2010 -Burke winner by dec

5-14-2011 -Burke winner by dec

James Dorris – Folsom PD Vs. Jesse Ruelas – Stanislaus Co. SD

8-28-2010 –Draw

5-14-2011 -Dorris winner by decision

Matt Wurdinger – Santa Clara PD Vs. Ricky Seward – Big Bear City FD

6-10-2011 -Wurdinger winner by decision

10-6-2012 -Wurdinger winner by decision

Jorge Salazar – Riverside Co SD Vs. Mario Alonzo – CDCR, Ironwood

7-27-12 -Salazar winner split decision

9-7-2012 -Salazar winner 2^nd rd TKO

Trilogy

Jorge Caamal – LASD Vs. Ivan Guillermo – LAPD

11-8-2008 -Guillermo winner by decision

3-26-2010 -Caamal winner by decision

12-2-2011 -Guillermo winner by decison

Trilogy

Angel Vasquez – LASD Vs. Ray Encinas – LAPD

6-30-2011 -Vasquez winner by decision

12-2-2011 -Encinas winner by decision

11-30-2012 -Encinas winner by decision

After 44 years of training, fighting and coaching Mike Young has decided to hang’em up. Mike has been with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for over 31 years and has been involved with the LASD Boxing Team his whole career.  “I was hired by LASD at the end of 1981, joined the team in 1982 with Sgt. Easie Williams who started the LASD Boxing Team.” Mike competed in his first California Police Olympics, Sacramento in 1983.  He won the Gold Medal in the 147lb division 6 consecutive years, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988. This is a Police Olympic record.  Mike said, “I took silver in 1989; I had a broken rib at that time. I went on to take Gold in 1990, 1991, silver in 1992, 1993 I broke my arm kickboxing so I could not compete, and took Gold again in 1994 and 1995.  I dedicated that fight in 1995 to my dad, my biggest boxing fan who died earlier that year.”  In 1995, Mike turned 35 years of age and according to the Police Olympics rules, you can not compete after the age 35. Mike loves the sport and would still be fighting today if the Police Olympics would allow him to compete.

When did you start boxing? I started fighting in Martial Arts first and got my butt whipped in an art called Savate in France in 1983. This inspired me to study boxing more seriously as most martial artists at that time thought that their martial art was the best.  My opponent from France was also a professional boxer and he rocked my world with a vicious right that sent me to the canvas twice, that’s when I said, “I better learn how to box.”  So I seriously started training with the LASD Boxing Team at that time in 1983. The guy who beat me, Richard Sylla is a legend in France in French kickboxing and we are still friends today, he was my inspiration!  I have traveled all over the world studying different styles from Brazil, China, Indonesia, France, New Zealand and of course Hawaii.

When did you start coaching? I started coaching the LASD boxing team in 1990 when Sgt. Easie Williams retired. I have been coaching the team ever since.  It’s a thankless job but I love the sport and I enjoy the lifelong friends and boxers I met along the way.  I have a professional boxing ring in my backyard and some people travel for hours to train with me!

Who was your biggest influence in boxing? My biggest influence in boxing was Sgt., Easie Williams who had the patience to work with me because I had bad fighting habits that I carried over from my martial arts background.  My second biggest influence came from trainer Fidel Fraijo who produced 4 northern California Golden Gloves champions, whose son, Sgt. Al Fraijo, who was a member of the LASD boxing team.  To date, in my opinion, Al was the best boxer our team ever produced and he has won many Police
Olympic Gold medals.

What are some of your most proud moments in boxing? I have coordinated many fights from the Marines, fighting in Camp Pendleton, LA County Firefighters, Oscar De La Hoya Productions, to in-house department “Smokers” like “The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre” in 2004, “The Novena In West Covina” in 2006 and “The Battle of the Trashtalkers” in 2009.  This year, I helped in the 19th annual “Fight for Life” where we finally hit the million dollar mark as the monies we have raised for the charitable organization, the City of Hope to fight cancer as I have always done for the past 19 years.  Three fights that I am especially proud of coordinating was “The Fight for America” where we raised $12,000 to send to the Police and Firefighters fund who were victims of the September 11, 2001 attack, the fight/fundraiser for one of my boxers Enrique Corral who suffered a tragic motorcycle accident that left him partially paralyzed, and another fight/fundraiser for Enrique Corral again and also for another LASD former boxer, Jannine Hanson who was diagnosed with breast cancer.  With my knowledge of coaching and coordinating boxing events, we were able to raise monies to personally help these people financially.  It made me, and all who were involved, feel good to help others using our fighting skills and our heart.

Aside from being a father, husband, and fighter you are also an Author. I have authored 2 internationally distributed books, both which have been translated into different languages, one entitled “Martial Arts Home Training” and another entitled “Martial Arts in Law Enforcement.”  I was also a freelance writer for Karate/Kung Fu Illustrated, Martial Arts Training Magazine, Inside Kung Fu and Martial Arts Combat Sports Magazine for over 13 years!

Mike Young may be perhaps the most decorated boxer who ever competed in the Police Olympic Games. After winning 10 gold medals, 2 silver medals in boxing, over 12 years of competition in the California Police Olympic/Police Summer Games/Western States Police and Fire Games he holds the record for the most Gold medals in boxing.  Mike also won 2 Silver medals in boxing at the World Police and Fire Games in 1985 and 1987.  He has competed with the LASD Boxing team in Arizona, Nevada and Atlantic City. Mike is a fighter through and through. He won over 22 Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in Karate competitions from 1983 to 1999, which is also another record.  Outside of the department, Mike competed in France twice and won the US Savate Championship in Chicago, 1989.

After dedicating most of his life to boxing, martial arts, coaching and promoting events Mike Young, LASD Sgt. plans to officially retire in a few months, March 26, 2013 to be exact.  He is leaving with a great reputation and will be missed. You can bet he will be at future Battle of the Badges, Fight for Life and Police Olympic Boxing Events, wrapping hands, giving advice and working the corners of fighters. Boxing is in his blood. Mike said, “I have been grooming a few people to take my place!  After all these years, maybe it’s time to rest?!!!!  NAH!”

Ava Knight with trainer Ben Bautista

Currently ranked number 1 in the world in the flyweight division

IBF WORLD FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION

WBC DIAMOND FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION

2009 IFBA NORTH AMERICAN BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION

The UCA is honored to have Ava Knight pose with the UCA Championship belt. Ava Knight was born and raised in Chico, California, where her boxing training began at the age of thirteen. Her amateur career record was an impressive 28-4. On October 29, 2011, Knight won the IBF Flyweight Title by defeating the undefeated Mexican champion, Arely Mucino via a second round knockout. Knight made her first successful IBF Flyweight title defense on March 31, 2012, in a ten round TKO win against Thailand’s Hongfah Tor Buamas. Ben Bautista is Knight’s trainer and manager and head trainer Champ Nation boxing gym Oakland California.

Ava Knight will be stepping back into the ring to face Susana Vasquez in a much anticipated rematch January 26, 2013 Chihuahua Mexico.

For latest updates on Ava Knight, “like” her official fan page on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/OfficialAvaKnight

Follow Ava Knight on Twitter @Ava_Knight or http://twitter.com/#!/ava_knight

Ava Knight (center) celebrates after her victory late Saturday against Susana Vazquez in Chihuahua, Mexico. Knight, a Chico native and Pleasant Valley High graduate, successfully defended her title by beating Vazquez for the second straight time. With her latest win, Knight remains the WBC and IBF flyweight champion. (Submitted photo)

Knight’s previous win also was against Vazquez, the former WBC champion whom Knight took the title from in their June bout by unanimous decision in Mexico City.

Vazquez was the lone challenger willing to face Knight, forcing the Chicoan to grant the rematch as other fighters haven’t stepped forward.

Article & photo courtesy ChicoER.com

The North vs. South Battle of the Badges will be taking place April 6, 2013 at Morongo Resort & Casino. If interested in competing, Sign up at www.socalbattleofthebadges.com. 

The former #1 ranked Jr Middleweight David Bermudez, with Chief of Police East Bay Regional Park District Timothy Anderson.  The UCA is honored to have the support of  Police Chief Timothy Anderson.