Once a person decides they want to be a fighter and accept the fact they will be hit, may get hurt, and it may be the toughest thing they ever go through, the journey can begin. Preparing for battle will challenge you and teach you things about yourself that will change you forever.  The physical training will be so demanding that no one will want to put themselves through it. People talk about fighting but few actually follow through with it. Most people are simply afraid or just aren’t built for it.  It takes a special person to be a fighter. When the time comes to enter the ring the ultimate goal  is to be mentally and physically prepared with no injuries. It’s rare to enter a fight without an injury, feeling drained or even sick. You have to be ready to fight regardless; it’s what fighters do. Once you have gone to battle and tested yourself against another fighter with the same mentality you will endure something most people will never experience or understand. Fighters are a rare breed.

Sacramento City College Wrestling kept their winning ways as they won the North Region Championship, edging out Fresno City College by 7 points. The Panthers had 6 wrestlers in the finals and 6 in the consolation finals to help solidify the Championship. All 12 wrestlers qualified for the State meet, a school record.

A capacity crowd is expected when the SoCal Battle of the Badges holds the first Public Safety boxing event of 2014. On Saturday February 1st Pechanga Resort and Casino will play host to 15 exciting bouts featuring some of the best fighters in California. The main event will feature undefeated 3rd ranked Ryan Hotchkiss, Barstow PD vs. once beaten 8-1, Travon Taylor, Orange Co. SD.   In the Co Main event #1 ranked Jr. Middleweight Dustin Rodriguez, Santa Monica FD will square off with the #1 ranked Middleweight Carlos Vega, Orange Co SD in a showdown that has major title implications. Also on the card 4th ranked Ray Encinas, LAPD will go head to head with Mario Daroda, Riverside PD in a Jr. Welterweight Showdown.  In the Light Heavyweight division 4^th ranked Daniel Alvarez, Riverside SD who is coming off Fight of the Night honors returns to the ring to take on Hector Tamayo, Pechanga FD. The night will also feature Super Heavyweights 4th ranked Justin Robinson, Combat Center FD vs. 8^th ranked Steve Mann, CDCR. This is going to be a tough card to beat.  Tickets are on sale now and priced at $30, ringside, $20 general and can be purchased online at www.socalbattleofthebadges.com or by calling the Pechanga Box Office 951-770-2507. Doors open at 5pm First fight at 6pm.

One thing you cannot choose is where you come from; it’s what shapes and defines you. Your life is shaped by the choices you make and your choices determine the path of your goals.  As the goals you choose come into focus there will be a time when you must leave your comfort zone to go after your goals. The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward.

On February 1, 2014 the finest Law Enforcement and Firefighters will compete in the SoCal Battle of the Badges. The competitors will enter the ring and leave behind being a father, mother, husband, wife, or provider. They will step into the ring as a fighter with one focus, one job, one responsibility: to win.  There are no titles on the line but there are fights with major title implications.

In the Main Event of this much anticipated card two extremely talented fighters will take center stage. Undefeated KO Artist Ryan Hotchkiss, Barstow PD will square off with Travon Taylor, Orange Co SD at a catch weight of 195lbs. Hotchkiss will enter the ring with a 5-0, (4KOs) record and look to put on another high light reel performance. Hotchkiss will have no easy task in front of him.  Taylor is an unknown fighter making his Battle of the Badges debut but is very familiar with the squared circle. Taylor is a fighter who holds a record of 8-1, (3KOs) and looks to make his mark in Public Safety Boxing.

The Co Main Event features two of boxing’s emerging stars, the #1 Ranked Jr Middleweight Dustin Rodriguez, Santa Monica FD vs. the #1 Ranked Middleweight Carlos Vega, Orange Co SD. Rodriguez and Vega are two high caliber fighters who want to test themselves against the best even if it means fighting out of their weight class. This fight is going to bring the fans to their feet.

Fans can look forward to a great Main Event and a stacked undercard showcasing future UCA Champions, promising prospects and local favorites. It’s going be a jam packed night of boxing.

Tickets are on sale now and priced at $30, ringside, $20 general and can be purchased online at www.socalbattleofthebadges.com or by calling the Pechanga Box Office 951-770-2507. Doors open at 5pm First fight at 6pm.

This year marked a great year of public safety boxing. Sold out events in great venues like Pechanga Casino, Pala Casino, Rabobank Arena and the Quiet Cannon. Four State champions were crowned including the first female, Stephanie Sparks, LASD and the undefeated Champion Brian Stevens, LASD made the first defense of his Cruiserweight Title. The Battle of the Badges boxing events continue to gain steam. Each event features undiscovered talent, future champions and the best fighters in the state competing for championship titles. LASD and LAPD still have the strongest teams; however Big Bear City FD, Orange County, Alameda County, and the California Dept. of Corrections are putting together boxing teams and will soon be gaining ground on the dominant LASD and LAPD teams. This makes for some great rivalries and great fights to look forward to.

UCA Promoter of the Year: Jeff Penn, SoCal Battle of the Badges:

The SoCal Battle of the Badges events are held in some of the best venues in California. Pechanga, Agua Caliente, Pala and Morongo Casino & Resort have played host to the most electrifying events of 2013. Jeff Penn has propelled the SoCal Battle of the Badges Events to new heights with some amazing fights. The SoCal Battle of the Badges continues to gain popularity and has become the most sought after event for fighters to compete at and fight fans to attend.

UCA Fights that gave creditability to Public Safety Boxing:

Due to the competitive high level performance provided by these boxers they can be compared to open USA Boxing amateurs. Caamal, LASD vs. Bugarin, Santa Clara SD, Stevens, LASD vs. Brathwaite,Orange Co SD Wurdinger, Santa Clara PD vs. Barragan,LAPD  Wurdinger, Santa Clara PD vs. Seward, Big Bear City FD, Barrios, LASD vs. Perez, LAPD, Rojas, LASD vs. Perez, LAPD  to name a few. These matches raised the bar for all Public Safety fighters and brought us to the mega fights we currently have today and for the future.

UCA Event of the Year: Richmond Battle of the Badges:

In what was labeled, “UCA Triple Header” the fighters did their part to live up to the hype of the card name. Three State Championship fights and some of the top names in boxing all on one card. Everyone on the card was ranked in the top ten, with the exception of one fighter.  Two “Fight of the Night” honors awarded to Quincy Mirage, LAPD vs. Brent Burkhart, CDCR in a barnburner of a fight and Williams, CDCR vs. Sparks, LASD in a back and forth battle. Sparks would later become the first female State Champion.  The Richmond Battle of the Badges also turned out to be the first North vs. South Battle of the Badges with the NORTH winning 5 of the 8 bouts.  The Richmond Battle of the Badges delivered a high-caliber event and one of the most talent stacked cards in recent years.

UCA Fighter of the Year: 

Stephanie Sparks, LASD, Super Middleweight State Champion

Brent Bugarin,Santa Clara SD, Welterweight State Champion

Matt Wurdinger, Santa Clara PD, Light Heavyweight State Champion

Brian Stevens, LASD Cruiserweight State Champion

Cleon Jones, Yolo Co Corrections, Super Heavyweight State Champion

 UCA Coach of the Year:

Armando “Mando” Guzman, Lite it up Boxing, Trainer of the UCA Cruiserweight Champion Brian Stevens, LASD,

Arvin Jugarap, The Kennel Boxing Gym, Trainer of the UCA Welterweight Champion Brent Bugarin, Santa Clara SD,

Coach Sarge, Dreamland Boxing, Trainer of the UCA Light Heavyweight Champion Matt Wurdinger, Santa Clara PD.

Mike Young, Rock n’ Roll Gym, Trainer of the UCA Welterweight Champion Stephanie Sparks, LASD

Miguel Munoz, Woodland Boxing Club, Trainer of the UCA Super Heavyweight Champion Cleon Jones, Yolo Co. Corrections.

UCA Courage Award: 
Having the courage to take on a challenge and be mentally and physically strong, against all odds – going into battle knowing what might happen and being brave enough to fight on.

Craig Hamblin, CDCR, Solano

Mario Alonzo, CDCR Ironwood

Best Nickname:

Juanita “Green Eyed Monster” Aragon, Morongo Public Safety

2013 Biggest upset:

Unranked Manuel Zavala, CDCR defeated 2^nd ranked Adam Acuna, Baldwin Park PD, June 1, 2013 SoCal Battle of the Badges.  “Fight of the Night” honors.

9^th Ranked Matthew Pereida, LASD handed undefeated 2nd Ranked Aurelio Vasquez, LAPD his first defeat. Nov 22, 2013, Fight for Life.  “Fight of the Night” honors.

Unranked Daniel Coca, CDCR, WSP defeated 5^th Ranked Chris Martinez, Avenal PD, October 19, 2013 Gun & Hoses.

2013 Classic Rematches:

Rematches are the result of a close, intense, all action, competitive fight, where both camps believe they won.  The close decisions of these fights made fans begging for a rematch.

Stevens, LASD vs. Brathwaite, Orange Co SD

Hernandez, LASD vs. Hamblin, CDCR Solano

Manning, LASD vs. Martinez, Avenal PD

Sparks, LASD vs. Williams, CDCR, San Quentin

Ramirez, LASD vs. Mirage, LAPD

UCA Fights of the Year:

“Fight of the Night” honors are memorable battles that undoubtedly will be talked about years from now.   While most fights come and go Fight of the Night battles live on through the ages and become a part of Public Safety Boxing History.  

Quincy Mirage, LAPD vs Brent Burkhart, CDCR, DVI – 4-20-13 Richmond Battle of the Badges

Eddie Montano, LAPD vs. Mark Marroquin, LASD – 5-24-13, LA Battle of the Badges

Aurelio Vasquez, LAPD vs. Matt Pereida, LASD -11-22-13 LA Fight for Life

Daniel Alvarez, RSO vs. Freddy Walton, Bail Bonds Agent 8-17-13 SoCal Battle of the Badges

Aaron Broyles, CDCR, Solano vs. Ray Cancel, CDCR, CSP SAC -8-24-13, Sac Battle of the Badges

UCA Dream Rematches: 

Shannon Lopez, LAPD vs. Dianna Fazzini, LASD

Montano, LAPD vs. Rodriguez, Santa Monica FD

Vasquez, LAPD vs. Pereida, LASD

Jones, Yolo Co Corrections vs. McIntyre, CDCR

Bugarin, Santa Clara SD vs. Caamal, LASD

Flores, Stanislaus SD vs. Lavarro, Long Beach PD

UCA Dream Title Fights:

Shannon Lopez, LAPD vs. Julie Williams, CDCR San Quentin (168lbs)

Wurdinger, Santa Clara PD vs. Brathwaite, Orange Co SD (175lbs)

Stevens, LASD vs. Garcia, LAPD (190lbs)

Rojas, LASD vs. Barrios, LASD (205lbs)

Frazier, LASD vs. Hotchkiss, Barstow PD (220lbs)

UCA Dream Title Fights:

Stephanie Sparks, LASD vs Julie Williams, CDCR San Quentin

Brent Bugarin, Santa Clara SD vs. Jorge Caamal, LASD

Matt Wurdinger, Santa Clara PD vs. Mike Barragan, LAPD

Brian Stevens, LASD vs. Jamaal Brathwaite, Orange Co SD

Cleon Jones, Yolo Co Corrections vs. Rahsaan Harrison, LASD

Fighters who made an immediate impact:

Crysti Resendez, San Bernardino SD

Jasmine Singh, Security Officer

Vanessa Siordia, LAPD

Daniel Ramirez, LAPD

Jose Corral, LASD

Matthew Pereida, LASD

Kyle Ferrari, Alhambra PD

James Brown, Anaheim PD

Nick Bennalack, Anaheim PD

Daniel Coca, CDCR

Manuel Zavala, CDCR

Shawn Sutherland, Big Bear City FD

Fighters to keep an eye on:

Savannah Stewart, Richmond PD, Shannon Lopez, LAPD, Dianna Fazzini, LASD, Mike Barragan, LAPD, Larry Cervantes, LASD, Shay McIntyre, CDCR, Guillermo Garcia, LAPD, Daniel Alvarez, RSO, Adam Acuna, Baldwin Park PD, Ray Encinas, LAPD, Angel Vasquez, LASD, Chris Martinez, Avenal PD, Brandon Manning, LASD, Quincy Mirage, LAPD, Aurelio Vasquez, LAPD, Brendi Ponce, LAPD, Eddie Montano, LAPD, DJ Vargas, Avenal PD, Sergio Trejo, LASD, Alex Perez, LAPD, Lamar Wilson, LASD, William Neal, LAPD, Antonio Rodriguez, CDCR, Mike Hernandez, LASD, Bert Castaneda, LAPD, Rahsaan Harrison, LASD

UCA Rumors: 

Bryan Williams, Fresno PD will come out of retirement if Mike Gomez, CDCR wins the Super Heavyweight Title.

Jamaal Brathwaite, Orange Co SD is dropping to 175lbs to challenge Matt Wurdinger, Santa Clara PD for his Light Heavyweight Title.

Bugarin, Santa Clara SD is dropping to 140 to attempt to be the first two division champion.

David Bermudez, East Bay Reg Parks PD is coming out of retirement to fight Jorge Caamal, LASD.

Francisco Flores, Stanislaus Co SD will take a rematch with Walter Lavarro, Long Beach PD in MMA or in boxing.

Super Fight Brian Stevens, LASD vs. Ryan Hotchkiss, Barstow PD

The Battle of the Badges will be televised on Spike, Fox Sports, or ESPN.