The New York Police Dept. Boxing Team welcomes the Los Angeles Police Dept., Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. and for the first time ever Policia De Puerto Rico to participate in a boxing event to benefit the Autism Foundation. The boxing teams will throw down to raise money to knock out Autism. Representing California from the LASD Boxing Team will be the undefeated Champion Brain Stevens, #2, Alan Rojas, #6, Brandon Manning, LASD coaches will be Jorge Caamal and Mando Guzman.  Representing the LAPD Team will be #1, Shannon Lopez, #2, Aurelio Vasquez, #3, Quincy Mirage, and #6, Bert Castaneda along with coaches Rudy Barragan, Robert Morales and Frank Diaz.  It all goes down Thursday June 5, 2014 at the Lexington Avenue Armory “Home of the Fighting 69th Regime.” 26 Street & Lexington Ave, New York, NY. Doors open at 6pm first fight starts at 7:30. General Admission Tickets are $25.00. Proceeds benefit the Autism Foundation. For more information visit http://nypdboxing.com/index.html

The former UCA #1 ranked Jr. Middleweight and runner up National Colligate Champion David Bermudez hasn’t competed in over two years but stays involved and gives back to the sport he loves by teaching the sweet science to kids, adults and anyone who wants to put on the gloves. Bermudez is the boxing coach at the Darcio Lira BJJ, Muay Thai, and Boxing Academy in Livermore, CA.  The East Bay Regional Parks Police Officer shares what he learned from his college boxing days at UNLV and from his past coaches Skipper Kelp, Chris Ben-Tchavtchaze, and Frank Slaughter along with sparring partners, Anthony “El Gallo Negro” Martinez, Joaquin “Killer” Gallardo, and Jose “The Punisher” Perez.

Being a good coach is more than just having a lot of experience, giving direction and knowing techniques.  It’s about being more than just a coach, it’s about becoming a mentor, a friend, someone to trust and believe in.  Bermudez is the epitome of what a good coach is and what his students aspire to be: knowledgeable, disciplined, consistent, respectful, reliable, patient, committed, supporting, and encouraging.  He is a leader and sets an example for his students. Bermudez training will improve and develop a fighter’s mental toughness, confidence, endurance, speed, coordination, balance, reflexes, polish skills, master techniques  and prepare his students for the moment they ever decide to step into the ring. What they learn from Bermudez they will keep with them forever. It’s Bermudez way of giving back and staying involved in the sport he loves. http://www.darciolirajiujitsu.com

Being a champion is how you are measured in your sport.  What Flores, Jones, Stevens, Bugarin, Sparks, Vargas and Wurdinger all have in common is they are a champion.  A champion is a winner; a person of high character who is consistently setting goals. Someone who is never satisfied and who always wants to be at the top of whatever he or she does.  A champion has a competitive fire that burns within to be better than everyone else. Champions have a vision and a plan to reinforce that vision. They have the courage to see the impossible and cross the line between good and great.  Champions are the people who overcome and persevere through all adversity. They have a positive mindset and are driven to be the best.  They are the first in the gym and the last to leave.  Champions believe they have a gift and they develop it into an extraordinary achievement.  They don’t accept boundaries, they challenge them. Champions are disciplined to put aside other pleasures to achieve greatness.   Their achievements will stay with them far beyond their days as a boxer.  Flores, Jones, Stevens, Bugarin, Sparks, Vargas and Wurdinger will live the rest of their lives as a champion.

The SoCal Battle of the Badges returns to Agua Caliente Resort and Casino tomorrow night to give fans a night of boxing.

Bout 1 (180lbs) Joe Marabito, Civilian vs. Jon Knowlton, Civilian

Bout 2 features two former top ranked heavyweights looking to break back into the top ten in a must win fight. Mario Alonzo, CDCR vs. Robert Morales, Rialto Police Dept.

Bout 3 (140lbs) Mike Sarkissian, Civilian vs. Juan Huerta, Civilian.

Bout 4 (168lbs) #1 ranked Carlos Vega, Orange County Sheriff’s Dept. looks to exit this fight the same way he entered, perfect. Vega will be taking on unknown Jesus Gonzales, Cathedral City PD. Vega could punch his ticket into a UCA State Championship fight with an impressive performance tomorrow night.

Bout 5 (300lbs) David Smith, Civilian vs. Benjamin Seagraves, Riverside Sheriff’s Office

Bout 6 (154lbs) 5^th ranked, Yesenia Nelson, CDCR vs. 3^rd ranked, Christina Banuelos, Riverside Sheriff’s Office. Banuelos looks to extend her win streak but she has a tough task in front of her. Nelson comes to fight every time she enters the ring. Don’t leave your seats when these lady warriors come on, they could steal the show.

Bout 7 (Super Heavyweights) Mike Bates, Civilian vs Adam Casas, Civilian

Bout 8 (165lbs) John Marugg, Civilian vs. Edgar Sandoval, Corona Police Dept.

Bout 9 (170lbs) Jose Covarrubias, CDCR vs. Eulices Recinos, U.S. Border Patrol

Bout 10 (Super Heavyweight) 8^th ranked Steve Mann vs Ruben Gamboa, Civilian.

Bout 11 (130lbs) #1 ranked Juanita Aragon, Morongo Public Safety looks to make it 5-0 against Asiah Medawar, San Bernardino Sheriff’s Dept.

The Main Event features #1 ranked Travon Taylor, Orange County Sheriff’s Dept. taking on “Fight of the Night” winner Freddy Walton, Civilian. Taylor started his public safety boxing career in style making a statement that he has arrived and is coming for Brian Stevens belt.

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the first bell rings at 6:00 p.m. The Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa is located at 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. Tickets: $20.00 General. $30.00 Ringside. CALL FOR TICKETS: 1-888-999-1995. www.socalbattleofthebadges.com

The SoCal Battle of the Badges went down Saturday night at Agua Caliente Resort & Casino and it was a night of upsets. 3 undefeated fighters suffered their first defeat and two unknown fighters are drawing a lot of attention.

Mario Alonzo, CDCR (2-3) handed Robert Morales, Rialto PD (2-1) his first defeat at Saturday night’s SoCal Battle of the Badges. Alonzo is fighting with a renewed confidence. He trains under the watchful eye of new trainer Marcos Caballero (Father to Randy Caballero, IBF #1 Bantamweight) “I worked hard with my trainer” Alonzo said. “He is pushing me to get the best out of me. I had a great training camp and felt strong coming into this fight.“ Alonzo winner by decision.

3rd ranked, Christina Banuelos, Riverside Sheriff’s Office (3-0) defeated 5^th ranked, Yesenia Nelson, CDCR by decision to stay perfect.

#1 ranked, Carlos Vega, Orange County Sheriff’s Dept. (3-1) suffered his first defeat at the hands of unknown Jesus Gonzales, Cathedral City Police Dept. Gonzales the unheralded underdog with something to prove temporarily derailed the # 1 ranked Vega’s title hopes. Vega can put himself back into contention for a title shot by dropping to 160lbs and beating someone in the top ten. Gonzales winner by decision. Add another name to the stacked Super Middleweight division.

Steven Mann, CDCR (3-0) defeated Ruben Gamboa to keep his perfect record intact and secure his spot as the 8^th best Super Heavyweight in California.

#1 ranked, Juanita Aragon, Morongo Public Safety started her boxing career on fire reeling off 4 wins in a row. Unknown Asiah Medawar, San Bernardino Sheriff’s Dept. did not want to be number 5.  Medawar defeated Aragon by decision putting a blemish on Aragon’s perfect record.

#1 ranked, Travon Taylor, Orange County Sheriff’s Dept. (10-1) continues his winning ways by defeating Gustavo Magana (civilian) via 2^nd rd. TKO. Taylor sits alone at the top of the cruiserweight division waiting for his shot at the undefeated, reigning and defending Cruiserweight State Champion Brian Stevens, LASD. August 1, 2014 LA Battle of the Badges.

Aside from the Central California Battle of the Badges (April, 19, 2014 Hanford Civic Auditorium) being one of the best cards of the year it also produced one of the best fights of the year. Deirdre Fonseca, LAPD vs Laura Morales, Fresno County Probation earned “Fight of the Night” honors for their determination, courage, boxing skills, and will to win. Neither fighter knows what the word “quit” means. They never heard of the word. It doesn’t exist to them. Fonseca and Morales are true fighters who dug deep and continued to push themselves probably further than they thought they could go. They fought through fatigue and pain and pressed the action in what was an incredibly, memorable close fight. Morales and Fonseca put on the type of performance that will last a lifetime. Congratulations to Deirdre Fonseca, LAPD and Laura Morales, Fresno County Probation for their well-deserved “UCA Fight of the Night” honors.

Bout 1 (132lbs) Adelbero Zorilla, Puerto Rico PD vs. Maceo Patterson, Bedsty C&K

Bout 2 features 5th ranked hard charging Brandon Manning, LASD taking on Puerto Rico PD’s Angel Ortiz. (160lbs)

Bout 3 features a “Female Grudge Match” between New York Correction Officers Fallon Diaz vs. Daina Henry.

Bout 4 (160lbs) features 3rd ranked Quincy Mirage, LAPD vs. Dennis Burgos, NYPD.

Bout 5 (160lbs) Art Gonzalez, LASD vs. Joel Allen, NYPD

Bout 6 (168lbs) #1 ranked Shannon Lopez, LAPD vs. Emily Werfel, NYPD

Bout 7 (185lbs) Wilfredo Benetiz, Puerto Rico PD vs. Isaac Acevedo, NYPD

Bout 8 features the undefeated reigning and defending UCA State Champion Brian Stevens, LASD testing his skills against Will Hamilton, NYPD. (190lbs)

Bout 9 (220lbs) 6th ranked Bert Castaneda, LAPD vs. Jamal Welch, New York Corrections.

Bout 10 (180lbs) Luis Febres Estrada, Puerto Rico PD vs. Jamaal Spence, NYPD

Bout 11 (147lbs) Jose Arellano, LAPD vs. Rodney Guitonez, NYPD

Bout 12 (165lbs) Ramon Ortiz, Puerto Rico PD vs. Dave Robinson, NYPD

Bout 13 (190lbs) Jay Morales, Puerto Rico PD vs. Mark Sinatra, NYPD

Bout 14 (170lbs) Sergio Granajo, LAPD vs. Jonathon Alvarez, NYPD

Bout 15 features undefeated 2nd ranked Alan Rojas, LASD vs. Tracy Gutierez, New York Corrections.

Thursday June 5, 2014 at the Lexington Avenue Armory “Home of the Fighting 69th Regime.” 26 Street & Lexington Ave, New York, NY. Doors open at 6pm first fight starts at 7:30. General Admission Tickets are $25.00. Proceeds benefit the Autism Foundation. For more information visit http://nypdboxing.com/index.html