Countdown 7 days until the NorCal Battle of the Badges returns to the big stage. On Saturday October 15, 2022 the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain will play host to a spectacular night of UCA Championship Boxing.  This is Public  Safety Boxing at its finest. From top to bottom the card is stacked with talent.  20 bouts featuring 40 of the best fighters in the country.

Nothing more to say. See you at the fights.

In life, everything is earned, nothing is given. The things that are valuable must be earned, because something that’s precious is unlikely to simply be handed out.

And still…
And new..
UCA Champion
UCA Golden Fists
UCA Gladiator
UCA Gold Medalist
Silver Medalist
UCA Fight of the Night

Northern California Battle of the Badges this Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain.  Doors open at 4pm first punch thrown at 6pm.

The Masters UCA Super Cruiserweight Champion Chuck Pfau, Sacramento Sheriffs Office and the undefeated reigning and defending UCA Cruiserweight Champion Anthony Cross, CDCR – CSP Sacramento are going over their strategy for Saturday nights title defense fight. 5 days out until the NorCal Battle of the Badges this Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain. Doors open at 4pm first bell rings at 6pm.

Fight week is finally here!!

For 36 fighters the preparation for one of the most challenging, yet rewarding journeys started months ago. The work is done and the stage is set for an exciting night of UCA Championship Boxing. The fighters will spend this final week polishing their skills to shine on Saturday night.

Don’t miss the NorCal Battle of the Badges Saturday October 15, 2022 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain. Doors open at 4pm first bell rings at 6pm.  

In 3 days the NorCal Battle of the Badges will showcase the most talented public safety fighters in the game These are the best fights that can be made in public safety boxing. If you are a fight fan you absolutely have to see this event. This is not a sales pitch it’s just a  statement of fact.  See you Saturday!

34 Battle Ready fighters participating in Saturday night’s highly-anticipated Northern California Battle of the Badges event will hit the scale tomorrow night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain. The first fighter will step onto the scale at 4pm. The official weigh in is open to the public. Don’t miss your chance to see the fighters square off with their opponent one last time before they meet in the ring Saturday night.

The NorCal Battle of the Badges fight card is now official, all the fighters successfully hit their mark on the scale. There is only one word to describe tomorrow night’s fights…., BANGERS !! Doors open at 4pm first punch thrown at 6pm.

The dust has settled a bit from the fight weekend at the Hard Rock Hotel Sacramento at Fire Mountain. What a night of action packed entertainment. The momentum of Public Safety Boxing has shown no signs of slowing down in putting on competitive action packed fights.

The opening bout of the NorCal Battle of the Badges featured two fighters making their ring debut. UCA Jr Heavyweight Kevin Lloyd, Sacramento Sheriff’s Office defeated Nathan Pigg, CDCR by split decision in a back and forth battle. Lloyd takes over the #2 spot in the Jr Heavyweight division and Pigg is right behind him at #3.

The 2nd bout of the night featured the undefeated 3rd ranked Super Middleweight Quinell Atkins, Fresno Police Dept squaring off with Kevin Disibio, CDCR – Solano State Prison for the vacant UCA Super Middleweight crown. Disibio put on a masterful performance to defeat Atkins by decision and become the new UCA Super Middleweight Champion. Presenting the UCA belt to the new Champion Is Warden Heather Shirley from Wasco State Prison

Bout 3 And the new…. Masters UCA Super Middleweight Champion Javier Banuelos, CDCR- California State Prison Sacramento. Banuelos defeated Rashaan Jones, Solano County District Attorney’s Office by a split decision nail biter to claim the Master UCA Super Middleweight title. Presenting the UCA belt to the new Champion Is Jim Cooper CA State Assemblyman and Sheriff Elect for County of Sacramento

Bout 4 The Masters UCA Super Heavyweight John Nolan, CDCR – Mule Creek State Prison defeated Craig Hamblin, CDCR – CA State Prison Sacramento by decision to take over the #2 spot in the Masters Super Heavyweight division.

Bout 5 UCA Super Cruiserweights Carlos Canez, Yocha Dehe Fire Dept and Gnia Kong, CDCR – CA Medical Facility made their ring debut. Both fighters would have their moments in the fight. Kong was very game and never backed down. The difference was Canez landed the cleaner punches. Canez knows how to thread the needle right through the gloves and land his shots. He is fun to watch. Canez winner by decision.

Bout 6 And the new…. UCA Jr Welterweight Champion Marcel Hernandez, CDCR Avenal State Prison. Edy Bryant, U.S Forest Service and Hernandez battled for 3 nonstop rounds for the UCA title. From the opening bell Bryant and Hernandez imposed their will on one another with neither fighter backing down. Bryant and Hernandez worked for everything they got in the fight. This was a very close fight that was decided by 2 or 3 landed punches. Hernandez would edge Bryant to pick up the win and the UCA Jr Welterweight title. Presenting the UCA belt to the new Champion Is Bobby Davis Chief of Police for Elk Grove Police Dept.

Bout 7 UCA Middleweights Vinny Bellafronte, Woodland Fire Dept and Andy Pholkham, Sacramento Sheriff’s Office. engaged in an exciting 3 round battle. When the final bell rang Pholkham would pick up a razor close split  decision win. With the win, Pholkham takes over the #2 spot and puts his name in title conversations to challenge #1 ranked Chad Madrid, Santa Monica Police Dept for the vacant UCA Middleweight title.

Bout 8 And still… The UCA Double Champ Chris Dubiansky, Camp Pendleton Fire Dept.

Dubiansky defended his UCA Super Heavyweight title by handing 2nd ranked Kyle Hatcher, Livingston Police Dept his first defeat.  Can anyone stop Dubiansky? He doesn’t  seem to have any weakness. Dubiansky is always looking for challenges and will fight anyone. He is interested in dropping to Jr Heavyweight and challenging the UCA Jr Heavyweight Champion Efrain Moreno, LAPD and becoming the first fighter to hold 3 UCA titles.  Presenting the UCA belt to the Champ Champ is Brandon Luke Chief of Police for the Rancho Cordova Police Dept.

Bout 9 The only female fight on the NorCal Battle of the Badges card lived up to the significant hype.  Ruby Bitzer, Officer of the Court and Briana Doss, CDCR – Solano State Prison made their ring debut and gave the fans their monies worth. It was nonstop action from start to finish. When the final bell rang and the scorecards were added up Briana Doss would claim the victory by split decision. 

Bout 10 The UCA 3rd ranked Super Heavyweight Noel Montes, CDCR – Folsom State Prison defeated Lance Martinez, LASD by decision Saturday night. Huge credit to Martinez for traveling from Los Angeles with only 2 fights (1-1) and taking on the hometown favorite and holding his own against the more experienced (9-1) Montes.

Bout 11 And the new… Masters UCA Super Cruiserweight Champion Adan Castillo, Yolo County Sheriff’s Office.

An unfortunate event happened 30 seconds into the first round of the fight. The UCA Super Cruiserweight Champion Chuck Pfau, Sacramento Sheriffs Office was circling away from Castillo and he ruptured his right quadricep tendon and fell to the canvas. The referee signaled to the Dr that Pfau was unable to continue, and Castillo was declared the technical winner by TKO and the new UCA Champion. A rematch is set for next year. Presenting the UCA belt to the new Champion Is Nathan Seger Sacramento County Sheriff’s Sgt. and the Sacramento Deputy Sheriff’s Association President

Bout 12  And still… The undefeated undisputed reigning and defending UCA Jr Cruiserweight Champion Aaron Benoit, CDCR – CHCF. Aaron Benoit vs Leonard Baker, Bakersfield Police Dept delivered as promised. High level action from bell to bell. It was a tactical match as both boxers displayed superb skills, battling from a distance and in close quarters. Baker would land his combinations and Benoit would match it.

As the fight wore on it became a question of who can keep up with this pace. Both fighters made each other work for everything they earned. This was a great test to the high boxing IQ of both fighters. In the end neither man was the clear-cut winner. Winner by split decision and still….. The UCA Jr Cruiserweight Champion Aaron Benoit. Presenting the UCA belt Is Warden Patrick covello from Mule Creek State Prison.

Bout 13 – 3rd ranked Ray Bautista, Contra Costa Fire Dept was scheduled to fight Mike Valle, CDCR – PVSP for the interim UCA Light Heavyweight title but Valle suffered an injury 2 days before the fight and the title fight was off the table. Bautista wanted to fight and was willing to fight anyone. Part time EMT Zane Hiestand who is always in the gym sparring and training next to stablemates Dansby, Kong, Benoit and Cross he accepted the fight.

Bautista pressured Hiestand the whole fight. Hiestand showed good footwork and moved around the ring looking for openings to land. Another close fight for the judges to score. When the scorecards were added up Hiestand would pick up the win by split decision.

Bout 14 In boxing and in all sports there are questionable calls and wrong decisions made. These are not made on purpose, Calls and decisions are made in split seconds from the perspective of the person making the call. More often than not it is one person doing their best and mistakes just happen. In this day and age we have the ability to go back and review a call and hopefully confirm that the correct call was made or decide that the call was wrong and make amends to fix it. On Saturday night bout 14 Anthony Cross vs Israel Padilla during round one Cross was given 3 standing 8 counts. Cross went on to have two strong rounds and was declared the winner at the end of the fight.  In review and per UCA rules, if a fighter receives 3 standing 8 counts or knockdowns in a round the bout will be stopped. Due to this rule the bout should have been stopped in the 1st round. The decision has been overturned and Israel Padilla, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Dept is the new UCA Cruiserweight Champion.  Both fighters are true gentleman and amazing competitors. Each has been gracious in their understanding while we have sorted this out. Congratulations to The New… UCA Cruiserweight Champion Israel Padilla Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office.  Presenting the belt to the new Champion is Don Novey Jr from Don Novey Jr Law Group.

Bout 15 Micheal Ford, Southern Marin Fire Dept vs Nathan Jennings, Sacramento Sheriff’s Office featured 2 fighters making their ring debut. Boxer vs the puncher. Both fighters had their moments on the fight. Both fighters landed close to the same amount of punches. The difference in the fight may have been the ring generalship by Ford. Super close fight. When the scorecards were added up Ford would get the split decision victory.

Bout 16 Darnell Strigglers, LASD made his ring debut against battle tested Jacob Duncan, Shasta County Sheriffs Dept. Both fighters would have their moments. Another tough fight for the judges to score. Strigglers would get the split decision win.

The last bout of the night featured Daniel Dansby, CDCR – Calif Medical Facility. Squaring off with

UCA newcomer Johnny Ciprian, Federal Bureau of Prisons for the Masters UCA Heavyweight title. It was a chess type of fight. Neither fighter wanted to make a mistake or take a risk. Tough fight to score. Daniel Dansby would receive the split decision victory and become the new…. Masters UCA Heavyweight Champion. Presenting the UCA belt to the new Champion is Matt Owens Sheriff’s Lt. and Vice President of the Sacramento County Law Enforcement Management Association LEMA.

The NorCal BOTB event broke all Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain records for attendance, hotel room occupancy and concession sales. Proceeds from the event benefited the Fallen Officers Resource Fund, Sacramento Sheriff’s Toy Project and the Firefighters Burn Institute.

To earn Fight of the Night honors a fight has to produce adrenaline, excitement and fireworks in a way that stands out from the rest of the card.

UCA FOTN honors could have easily been awarded to:
Briana Doss vs Ruby Bitzer
Marcel Hernandez vs Edy Bryant
Andy Pholkham vs Vinny Bellafronte

Unfortunately there can only be one.

The NorCal Battle of the Badges UCA Fight of the Night honors is awarded to Aaron Benoit and Leonard Baker. They brought out the best in each other. Their styles were made for each other and it made for a great high skill level fight.

The UCA 2nd ranked Middleweight Andy Pholkham, Sacramento Sheriff’s Office received the Frontline Metal Performance of the Night award for his performance against Vinny Bellafronte, Woodland Fire Dept at the NorCal Battle of the Badges event October 15, 2022 at the Hard Rock Casino in Wheatland.  This custom metal award was made by Johnny Cernucan, at Frontline Metal.

Andy Pholkham was picked from a stacked card as the Performance of the Night winner by the former 3X IBF, WBA, NABO World Champion Tony “The Tiger” Lopez and the former WBA World Champion Loreto Garza.