The United Combat Association represents the best in Public Safety Boxing in the United States. Accordingly, the UCA is constantly looking for new talent and fighters to step into the famed squared circle. The UCA has struck gold with the fighters representing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, CDCR. There have been some break out stars who have exploded onto the UCA scene. Fighters like Anthony Cross, CSP, Sacramento, Benny Cervantes, CHCF, Noel Montes, Folsom State Prison, Mario Alonzo, Centinela State Prison and Aaron Benoit, CHCF.  These fighters are on the cusp of reaching the pinnacle of public safety boxing: The highly coveted and elusive UCA Championship Title Belt! 

These fighters have their sights set squarely on the title and look to follow in the footsteps of CDCR boxing royalty such as UCA Champions Shant Sheklanian, State Parole, Mike Valle, Pleasant Valley State Prison, James Davis, Folsom State Prison, Sean Johnson, Kern Valley State Prison and newly crowned female Champion April Martinez, California Health Care Facility.

The road to the top is paved through countless hours of arduous training and the top contenders in the respective weight divisions. The UCA looks forward to seeing which CDCR fighters separate themselves from the pack and erect themselves at the top of the public safety boxing mountain! Sign up now for the event nearest you and take the first step in the road to the UCA Championship Title Belt. The first bell awaits you! 

Years from now when boxing fans are talking about who were some of the greatest UCA fighters, a few factors will have to be considered. A fighters skill level, accomplishments, level of competition and who looked for challenges in other weight divisions. Throughout boxing’s rich history, some of the greatest boxing legends are multi division champions. Names like Ward, Mayweather, De La Hoya, Pacquiao, Chavez and Holyfield are fighters who were able to have success in multi weight divisions. 

The UCA has it’s boxing legends too. Years from now names like Bugarin, Mendoza, and Blevins will have to be in conversations as some of the greatest fighters due to their accomplishments in more than one weight division. On November 16, 2018 the reigning and defending UCA Welterweight Champion Mike Delery, LAPD will look to challenge himself by moving up a weight division to take on 3rd ranked Christian Pharo, San Diego Fire Dept. for the UCA Jr Middleweight Championship title. This will be no easy feat for Delery. Pharo is a naturally bigger fighter, has more experience and has been waiting for his opportunity to show everyone how good he is.  Delery is taking a big risk and could easily stay in his division and dominate for years. However one of the measures of boxing greatness has been whether or not a fighter could have success in more than one weight class. It takes a very special athlete to be able to move up a division, compete at a high level and win a title. Is Mike Delery one of those special athletes? Find out at the Fight for Life Event Friday November 16, 2018 at the Pacific Palms Resort and Hotel.  Doors open at 5pm first punch thrown at 7pm. Tickets start at $40,00 General Admission and $150.00 VIP tickets can be purchased at the door.

The fighters competing in the Fight for Life event at the Pacific Palms Hotel stepped on the scale this morning to make their bouts official. Everyone hit their mark on the scale. The main event will showcase Mike Delery, LAPD meeting up with #3 Christian Pharo, San Diego Fire Dept for the UCA Jr Middleweight title. The co-main event will feature Kellen Kramer, Bell Gardens PD defending his UCA Middleweight crown against #4 Humberto Moreno, LAPD. The 3rd UCA title fight scheduled for the event between Jorge Caamal, LASD and Gabriel Flores, LAPD was scratched. Caamal was unable to make the official weigh in due to work obligations. Also in action tomorrow night will be Efrain Moreno, Daniel Rosales, Aurelio Vasquez, LAPD and Remin Pineda, LASD. The Fight for Life doors open at 5 pm with the first bout starting at 7 pm. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the door.

The Pacific Palms Hotel and Resort filled with several hundred fans Friday night for the Fight for Life event. 12 bouts featured fighters from LASD, LAPD, LAFD, Pasadena PD, and Bell Gardens PD. The main event showcased the UCA Welterweight Champion Mike Delery, LAPD looking to capture his 2nd title by defeating #3 Christian Pharo, San Diego Fire Dept. for the Jr Middleweight title. In the sport of boxing a fighter has to take advantage of opportunities that are given to him because they may not always be there. On the way to the top you don’t get to decide the challenges. For a fighter with ambition it is simple, take the best fights you can get, accept the challenges that offer the harshest test and the biggest reward. That is exactly what Pharo did. He was offered a title fight against the reigning and defending UCA Welterweight Champion Mike Delery and jumped on it. Pharo knew there would be no short cuts, in order to win he would have to go through the fire and sacrifice everything. He was fighting the champ in LA and he was coming in on the B side. Pharo put himself through a grueling training camp sparring with pro fighters Kevin Ottley and Maurice Hooker at PTC Boxing Gym, San Diego. “I knew Delery was tough” Pharo said. “And I prepared for a war.” When the bell sounded to start this highly anticipated showdown both fighters looked to gain a tactical advantage. Delery used his jab and controlled the first round. Pharo started to pull away in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. He stalked and backed Delery up and continued to attack the body. In order to win it all you must risk it all. After 3 rounds, he did it. Congratulations to the new UCA Jr Middleweight Champion Christian Pharo, San Diego Fire Dept. 

The co main event was a matchup between the UCA Middleweight Champion Kellen Kramer, Bell Gardens PD vs #4 Humberto Moreno, LAPD. Moreno attempted to do what no fighter has ever done before, defeat Kellen Kramer. Once the fighters touched gloves they started trading leather. It was a brutal 3 round war showcasing both fighters grit and toughness. In Kramer typical fashion he pressed the action from the first to the last bell. He never stopped risking himself in pursuit of the win. Moreno had his moments when he used his footwork and was able to separate himself from the mauling Champion. When the fighters came to the center of the ring for the decision Kramer once again proved he is unbeatable. And still….The UCA Middleweight Champion Kellen Kramer, Bell  Gardens Police Dept.  

The Fight for Life boxing event ended 2018 with extraordinary action.  The main event saw Christian Pharo, San Diego Fire Lifeguard capture the UCA Jr Middleweight title and the co main event featured Kellen Kramer Bell Gardens Police Dept. defending his UCA Middleweight title and keeping his perfect record intact.  The under card featured a talented cast of fighters who fans will be soon talking about.

The night started off with two fighters making their ring debut Fidel Carreno, LAPD Academy vs Charles Smith, LASD. Both guys started off slow feeling each other out. Toward the end of the round Carreno started to back Smith up and hit the target with his punches. Smith started out the 2nd round strong coming forward and landing punches of his own. Tied up 1-1 going into the 3rd. When the bell rang to start the 3rd Carreno put the pressure on Smith and Smith started to slow down half way through the round, it could be from the body work by Carreno in the 1st and 2nd rounds. This fight would go the distance and Carreno would pick up his first win by decision

The 2nd fight of the night featured a rematch between Aurelio Vasquez, LAPD vs Brian Petrella, Pasadena PD. Vasquez leads the series 1-0. When the bell rang Vasquez came out very relaxed and patient, different from the nonstop, throwing punches in bunches style we are used to. Petrella didn’t have an answer for the precise calculated Vasquez.  Petrella started to put a little heat on his punches in the 2nd rd. but couldn’t land anything clean. Down two nothing Petrella would need a knockout in the 3rd round to win. Vasquez stuck to the game plan, keeping his composure, using good footwok, a tight defense and throwing straight punches. Petrella may have been confused by Vasquez’s new style he could never really find his rhythm. Something happened during the last 15 seconds of the fight. The game plan went out the window, Vasquez and Petrella planted their feet in front of each other and started throwing lefts and rights with very bad intentions. When the bell sounded both fighters remained standing and once again Vasquez would defeat Petrella by decision.  

Bout 3: Manuel Mindieta, LAPD vs Ismael Opina, LASD featured two evenly matched fighters making their ring debut.  Even first round, Mindieta may have stolen the round in the last 10 seconds by backing Opina to the ropes with a 5 punch combination.  Opina came out in the 2nd round throwing 3 punches to every one punch thrown by Mindieta. Opina turned it up even more in the 3rd round. Both fighters showed good fundamentals but Opina was too busy.  Opina winner by decision.

Bout 4: Shawn Baker, LAFD vs Efrain Moreno, LAPD featured two skilled big men. When the bell rang Baker came out of his corner firing on both cylinders backing Moreno up with heavy leather.  Moreno used his footwork and defense to stay out of danger. Baker continued to push a fast pace in the first round, could he keep it up? Baker came out strong in the 2nd but started to fade toward the end of the end of the round. Moreno was able to establish his jab and land some clean punches.  Whoever wins the 3rd round wins the fight. Baker took full advantage of the 60 second break. He came out strong to start the 3rd round throwing punches in bunches and not giving Moreno a chance to establish his offense. Baker winner by decision.

Bout 5: featured a rematch between Daniel Rosales, LAPD and Alex Perez, La Habra Boxing Gym. Perez is a decorated amateur who is ready to turn pro. Perez won the first meeting and Rosales had revenge on his mind.  Very close 1st round with Rosales edging it out. Close 2nd round slight advantage Perez. Perez and Rosales showed high level stuff.  These guys are always in position and as soon as one of them makes a slight mistake they are ready to take advantage of it. Even fight going into the 3rd. Rosales continued to put the pressure on Perez and throw hard punches. When the last bell rang Rosales would pick up the win and even the score.

Bout 6: When two female fighters step into the ring fans can expect an all action fight and that is exactly what Kaylee Sicaros, LAPD and Destiny Moreno, LASD delivered. These ladies threw punches from bell to bell and never backed down. Moreno was a little more polished but that didn’t prevent Sicaros from backing down.  She is tough as nails and was not affected by the hard punches landed by Destiny. Kaylee is trained by Aurelio Vasquez and Quincy Mirage so you know she has to be tough. Sicaros was down two nothing going into the 3rd and continued to bring the fight to Moreno but it wasn’t enough.  Moreno was just a little bit better on this night. Moreno winner by decision.

Bout 7: Brian Smith, LASD vs Charles Medrano, LAPD featured two fighters making their ring debut. Medrano threw a good variety of punches and good counter hook. Smith had his moments in the fight landing punches of his own.  Medrano kept backing Smith up not giving him a chance to breathe.  Both fighters showed good skills in their first fight but the pressure and heavy punches thrown by Medrano was the difference. Medrano winner by decision.

Bout 8 Alberto “The Pit Bull” Tapia, USC Police Dept. vs Remin Pineda, LASD. Holy smokes they don’t call him the Pit Bull for nothing. When the bell rang Tapia jumped on Pineda and did not let up. In the 2nd round Tapia showed he can brawl and box. He used good footwork and did good work behind his jab. In the 3rd Pineda started to put the pressure back on Tapia but it was too late. Tapia winner by decision.

Bout 10: Zane Archer, LAFD vs Jose Garcia (Civilian) Archer is a hidden gem in public safety boxing. He is a heavyweight but moves like a middleweight and showed great skills in his first fight.  Garcia was waiting to land one big shot while Archer continued to throw punches and rack up points.  Archer winner by decision.

Bout 11: The UCA Light Heavyweight Title fight between Jorge Caamal, LASD and Gabriel Flores, LAPD was canceled at the weigh in but Flores still wanted to fight. In less than 24 hours an opponent was found for Flores. Civilian fighter Abraham Cruz from the LASD Century Sheriff’s Station Gym stepped up.  When the first bell rang Flores showed good footwork and used his jab like a surgical tool. He showed great composure and looked like a fighter with 20 fights. He did a good job of setting up his punches going to the body and head. Cruz was aggressive and was throwing punches with bad intentions.  This fight would go the distance and Cruz would pick up the win.

The SoCal Battle of the Badges will put on the first event of the 2019 boxing season. The event will be held Friday February 8, 2019 at Agua Caliente Resort and Casino in Rancho Mirage. Over 2000 fans will fill the arena to see some of the best fighters in the game trade leather for charity. It doesn’t get any better than this, amateur fighters performing on a stage where Showtime PBC and HBO have broadcast World Championship Title fights. You definitely won’t want to miss this show! Purchase tickets and sign up to fight at www.socalbattleofthebadges.com

The newly crowned UCA Jr Middleweight Champion Christain Pharo, San Diego Fire Dept is jumping back in the ring to defend his title against the former champion and #1 ranked Dusty Rodriguez, Santa Monica Fire Dept at the SoCal Battle of the Badges Friday February 8, 2019 at Agua Caliente Resort & Casino. Rodriguez is hungry and ready to reclaim what was his. 

Pharo feels it’s time to stamp his mark in the UCA by defeating Rodriguez and proving to everyone he is the best Jr Middleweight out there. Don’t miss it!