The Sac City College Wrestling Team is thrilled to kick off its 2013 season. The team is full of talented athletes who are driven, focused, and determined to be the best in the state.   The team is coached by Dave Pacheco who has built Sacramento City College Wrestling into one of the best programs in California.

UCA: How long have you been the wrestling coach at Sac City College?

DP: This is my 31st year at SCC as a paid coach, my 30th as the head coach.  Before that, I coached one year at Idaho State University as the Head Assistant Coach and two years at Luther Burbank HS, also as the Head Assistant coach.

1979-80 – Idaho State University – Head Assistant Coach
1980-82 – Luther Burbank HS – Head Assistant Coach
1982-83 – Sacramento City College – Head Assistant Coach
1983 to Present – Sacramento City College = Head Coach

UCA:Who else is a part of the Sac City Wrestling coaching staff?

DP: We have a great coaching staff and facility. Walter Ulrich (17th Year) has been a tremendous help to our program as the main technique coach over the years.  Lawrence Saenz (7th Year) has been a big help both on and off the mat and was a part of our 1996 Championship team. We have picked up great help in Mark Pfeifer (3X All American), Todd Dilbeck (Sports Psych Specialist) and Joe Pacheco over the past two years.  We continue to get support from former SCC wrestlers like Danny Castillo (2X All American and UFC Fighter), Jose Reyes (State Champ and Businessman), Freddie Aquitania (All American and UFC Fighter) and so many more. This helps develop the program as well. This year we have been fortunate to have Matt Sanchez (2X All American for CSU Bakersfield) helping us a couple of days a week.  It is just a great team chemistry from the wrestlers to the coaches and support staff.

UCA:With so much talent on the team you have to be excited about this upcoming year?

DP: We have a very talented and deep team top to bottom. You never know what the future holds, but we expect to be in the hunt for the state championship.

UCA: How has the Sac City College Wrestling program become one of the best in the state?

DP: Our program is well known for developing student / athletes to send to the next level.  We have more academic All Americans than any other team in our state by more than 50%.  We have more wrestlers competing at the four year level after they finish with us than any other team in the state. This year alone we will have 15 or 16 young men competing for the four year schools. We also send former wrestlers onto the next level for academics if they choose not to wrestle any further. A good example is Blair Kittle who went on to UC Berkley this year on an academic scholarship and is currently on the Bears Marching Band. We take pride in all of our student / wrestlers to strive to be the best at the next level and beyond.

The team’s first tournament of the season will be Saturday Sept 21, at Sac City College.

The former UCA light heavyweight title challenger, Juan “Bad Blood’ Bustamante, Los Angeles Police Dept.  will be making his professional boxing debut September 20, 2013 against Robert Hill, Palmdale CA.  The UCA sat down with Mr. Bustamante to ask him a few questions about the upcoming fight.

UCA -You are fighting under the All Star Promotions banner, promoter Ed Holmes. How has the process been getting a pro license, signing a contract for money, finding an opponent, selling tickets, etc.?

JB – It was a long process for me, mostly due to family and work. I wanted to make sure I had the time to train and prepare myself. Finding an opponent and signing the contract was tough, but thankfully I was introduced to Ed Holmes and Peter Hironaka (matchmaker) who pretty much took care of all the behind the scenes stuff. As for the selling tickets part, it’s been going smoothly, I’m grateful that I have a good fan base/following.

UCA – There are some big differences fighting as a professional  fighter than as an amateur fighter; no head gear, smaller gloves, longer rounds, fighting for money, etc. What have you done to make the transition to become a professional fighter?

JB – My whole training regimen has changed and sparring is way different!  Training as a pro, compared to training as an amateur has its differences. Just recently, I had been sparring with no head gear on, the fighters my coach brings into camp are a lot more technical, and I’ve integrated an Olympic lifting coach into my camp.

UCA – You will have a lot of friends, family, and coworkers at the fight.  Are you feeling pressure to perform well for them?

JB – I always want to perform well, I definitely feel a lot more pressure due to what’s at stake, but I believe Ill perform to my best ability and be the victor at the end of the night.

UCA – Do you feel you have an advantage fighting at the Quiet Cannon a venue you have fought at numerous times?

JB – The Quiet Cannon is definitely my home turf.  Having fought there so many times throughout my amateur career, I feel that I’ll be having the home field advantage.

UCA – Looking back at your amateur career is there anything different you will do as a pro?

JB – Looking back, EVERYTHING has to change. I can’t be the same fighter I was, I need to fight smarter and with more control.

UCA – What weight will you be fighting at?

JB – I will be fighting at Super Welterweight (154lbs)

UCA – When is the last time you were at the weight?

JB – I’ve NEVER fought at that weight.

UCA – What weight did you start your training camp at?

JB – I started training camp at around 190lbs

UCA – How has the weight cut been?

JB – The weight cutting has been real good. With the type of training I’ve been put through the last couple of months and the change of diet I’ve been sticking to, cutting weight has gone great!

UCA – Do you know anything about your opponent?

JB – His name is Robert Hill and he trains out of SoCal Fight Factory, in Palmdale.

UCA – Is there anything that worries you about Robert Hill?

JB – The only thing that concerns me about Robert Hill is the fact that he’s coming into this fight with nothing to lose. It’s my home, my debut and my reputation on the line.

UCA – How do you see the fight going?

JB – I play the fight over in my head about 1000 times a day. Always ending with my arm being raised.

UCA – Will you have the same team in your corner as you had as an amateur?

JB – Coach Sal Casillas will be my head coach and my corner men are out of Maywood Boxing and my partner from work.  Sal coached me in some of my biggest fights (ex: Bustamante vs. Barrios II).

UCA – Your goal as an amateur was to eventually become a professional fighter, congratulations. What is your goal as a professional fighter?

JB – My goal as a professional is to show everyone in boxing that police officers/correctional officers/deputies/firefighters and all military personnel can hang with some of the best in the world and give us the recognition we deserve.

UCA – What is the difference between Bustamante of today and the one who stepped into the ring for the first time?

JB – Off the top, the weight! hahaha. Of course the experience and skill set. I’ve grown so much as a boxer in these last few years that it’s like day and night from when I first started.

JB – One thing I’d like to add, September 20th is going to be a day that has been coming for a long time.  Once the smoke clears and the cheers stop, I’ll know if this was the right decision I made in life. Win, Lose or draw, I’ll know that I reached a lifelong goal and childhood dream. On Sep 20th, I won’t be in that ring alone. That night I’ll have every peace officer, firefighter and military man & woman with me inside that ring! Every punch I throw, every punch I take, will be for all my brothers/sisters in arms.

Tickets starting at $50 and are available to purchase by calling 626-629-6717 or online at www.allstarfights.com. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Friday, Sept 20, 2013. The first undercard bout starts at 6:30 p.m.  Quiet Cannon, 901 Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA.

Friday night September 20, 2013 Live Professional Boxing at the Quiet Cannon, Montebello California. AllStar Promotions Presents, Battle of the Rising Stars. The former UCA Light Heavyweight Title Challenger Juan Bustamante, LAPD will step into the ring Friday night as a professional fighter when he takes on 0-1 Robert Hill, Palmdale, CA, 4 rounds, Super Welterweights (154lbs). Other fighters on the card include undefeated middleweight prospects Matt Jacobs, and Jose Hernandez, Lancaster. Also on the card, Deon Elam, Ricardo Rodriguez, Thomas Herrera, Fabian Ocegueda, and Daniel Franco.

Event Location: Quiet Cannon 901 Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA
Fights Start at 6:30
For Tickets: Call: (626) 629-6717 www.allstarfights.com
Promoter-Ed Holmes, Matchmaker-Peter Hironaka

The Battle of the Rising Stars weigh-ins took place earlier today and all 18 fighters hit their marks for Friday night’s bouts. Juan Bustamante, Los Angeles Police Dept. making his pro debut tip the scales at 158lbs his opponent Robert Hill, (0-1) Palmdale, CA also came in at 158lbs. Tickets are still available to watch heart pounding action tomorrow night at the Quiet Cannon.

Allstar Promotions Battle of the Rising Stars Fight Card

Bout 1: 140lbs Brian Jones, 7-1 Los Angeles vs. Thomas Herrera, 3-7-1 Arizona (6 rounds)

Bout 2: 140lbs Fabian Ocegueda, 8-0 Los Angeles vs. Rynell Griffin, 7-14-2 Nevada (6 rounds)

Bout 3: Heavyweights Deon Elam, 12-1 Van Nuys vs. TBA

Bout 4: 165lbs Jose Hernandez, 2-0 Palmdale vs. Brian True, Hawthorne, Pro Debut (4 Rounds)

Bout 5: 115lbs Ricardo Rodriguez, 7-1, Los Angeles vs. Fernando Fuentes, 3-1 Hemet (4 Rounds)

Bout 6: 152lbs Ernesto Ocon, 5-0, Los Angeles vs. Urmat Ryskeldiev, 6-3, Kyrgyzstan (4 Rounds)

Bout 7: 147lbs Carlos Meraz, 1-0, San Bernardino vs. Eddie Adams, Pro Debut (4 Rounds)

Bout 8: 158lbs Juan Bustamante, Pro Debut, Los Angeles vs. Robert Hill, 0-1 Palmdale (4 rounds)

Bout 9: 130lbs Daniel Franco, 4-0, Riverside, vs. Alejandro Ochoa, 3-4-1, Bell Gardens, (4 Rounds)

Event Location: Quiet Cannon 901 Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA
Fights Start at 6:30
For Tickets: Call (323) 816-6200 www.allstarfights.com
Promoter-Ed Holmes, Matchmaker-Peter Hironaka

Making the move from amateur boxer to professional boxer is a huge step.  To be a professional fighter it’s a way of life and requires extreme sacrifices.  Despite all the hours of training you still may not be 100% prepared. When you step into the squared circle anything can happen.  On Friday night September 20, 2013 Juan Bustamante, LAPD stepped into the ring as a professional fighter. Although Bustamante gave his best effort he was unsuccessful in his professional debut.  The difference in the fight was Robert Hill’s height and reach advantage. Bustamante couldn’t seem to get past Hill’s jab. Bustamante would have his moments but in the end Hill  (Palmdale, SoCal Fight Factory) would pick up the unanimous decision win. Photos courtesy of Chase Photography

Sacramento City College won its own tournament Saturday, September 21, 2013 by beating three time State Champion, Fresno City College in a nail biter, winning 132 to 129.“This was a great effort for the Panthers, but only the start to the season. We have a lot of season left to keep improving” said Coach Dave Pacheco.

Frankie Fisher, Inglewood PD and Jamaal Brathwaite, Orange Co. SD met in the ring June 10, 2011 Ontario CA in the Gold Medal round of the Western States Police & Fire Games. It was a classic back and forth battle with both fighters hitting the canvas. In the end it was Brathwaite who would come out on top with Police Olympic Gold.  These two battle tested warriors exhibited incredible heart, skill and courage in extraordinary circumstances.