Central Cal Battle of the Badges Fight Night

The  city of Visalia played host to one of the most loaded cards Saturday night. Boxing fans filled the Visalia Convention Center to watch the Central California Battle of the Badges. The event produced epic performances by some of the best boxers in the country. Eight UCA Championship titles were on the line and six new champions were crowned. “Fight of the Night” honors were given to UCA Super Heavyweights, John Olson, CDCR – Avenal State Prison and Javier Robles, Tulare County Sheriff’s Dept. The UCA Golden Fists award was given to Marcel Hernandez, CDCR Avenal State Prison. Kyle Hatcher, Livingston Police Dept. Jesse Zuniga, LAPD and Edy Bryant, U.S. Forest Service. The UCA Gladiator award was given to Daniel Seals, LAPD and Mikel Haggett, California Smoke Jumper. The undercard featured a talented cast of fighters who fans will be hearing about very soon. Click on the Results tab to see the undercard results. UCA Championship boxing shows no sign of slowing down and the talent level is at an all time high. 

The opening bout of the night featured two fighters with identical skills.  Ruben Munoz, California Dept. of Social Services Investigation vs King Xiong, DSH-Coalinga for the UCA Lightweight title. It was a highly competitive showdown that set the tone for the rest of the event. That’s how you open up a UCA card. Munoz would defeat Xiong by split decision to become the first And New… UCA Lightweight Champion Ruben Munoz, California Dept. of Social Services Investigation. 

The 2nd title fight of the night featured the Masters UCA Light Heavyweight Champion Izzy Montes, CDCR CSP Sacramento defending his title against Steven King, CDCR State Parole in a unique rematch. Montes and King met 24 years ago at the 1998 Police Olympics with Montes winning a close decision and the gold medal. King thought he did enough to win and would finally get his chance for revenge 24 years later. After trading leather for 3 rounds the decision would be left in the judges hands. Once again, Izzy Montes would be declared the winner, And Still….. The Masters UCA Light Heavyweight Champion…Izzy “Let’s Get Bizzy” Montes. The score is finally settled between these two ageless warriors Montes 56, King 52.

Joshua Robles, Los Angeles Police Dept vs Manual Galvan, CDCR Sierra Conservation Center featured a matchup between two of the best fighters in the game. Both fighters entered the ring with undefeated records These warriors brought out the best in each other. It was a tactical match as both boxers displayed superb skills, battling from a distance and on the inside. Robles may have landed the harder shots but Galvan matched his work rate. Galvan made Robles work for everything he got in the fight. In the end, Robles was just a little bit better on this night. And New…UCA Super Cruiserweight Champion Joshua Robles, Los Angeles Police Dept. 

The undefeated Light Heavyweight Cesar Sosa, CDCR-CMF took on undefeated Anthony Walker, Reedley Police Dept for the UCA Light Heavyweight title.  When the bell sounded both fighters came out of their corner looking for openings in each other defense.  Half way through the round Sosa caught Walker with a right hand that put him down. Walker made it back to his feet and continued fighting. Walker was knocked down again in the 2nd round and it seemed to be over but surprisingly Walker continued to fight. Sosa continued to dominate the action forcing referee Dave Hartman to stop the action in the 2nd round. And New…UCA Light Heavyweight Champion Cesar Sosa, CDCR California Medical Facility. 

Justin Cortez, Baldwin Park Police Dept. vs Armando Franco, Tulare Police Dept featured two fundamentally sound highly skilled fighters in a war for the UCA Welterweight crown.  Franco set a fast pace from the start and never slowed down. There were ebbs and flows throughout the fight. Cortez would have his moments but Franco was the more active of the two, and landed the more effective punches.  After 3 hard fought rounds the judges had a decision.  And New…UCA Welterweight Champion Armando Franco, Tulare Police Department. 

The UCA Jr Heavyweight Title fight was almost canceled. Efrain Moreno, LAPD was originally scheduled to challenge Noel Montes, CDCR, Folsom State Prison for the UCA Jr Heavyweight title.  Montes suffered a foot injury and was forced to withdraw from the fight.  Montes was replaced by unbeaten Chris Romero, DSH – Coalinga.  This contest would go the distance. Romero would have his moments but Moreno controlled the action all 3 rounds. The speed, movement and volume of punches thrown  sealed the win for Moreno.  And New….UCA Jr Heavyweight Champion Efrain Moreno, Los Angeles Police Dept. 

The undisputed reigning and defending UCA Cruiserweight Champion Anthony Cross, CDCR – CSP Sacramento put his belt and perfect record on the line against Andrew Ortiz, CDCR North Kern State Prison to find out who is the best Cruiserweight fighter.  When the bell rang to start this much anticipated matchup, Cross came forward looking to establish his offense. He pushed the pace  and hit Ortiz with clean, hard punches. As the fight wore on it became a question of whether the Champion would be able to drag Ortiz into deep waters and drowned him. Ortiz didn’t let that happen, although he suffered two knockdowns there was no quit in him.  In the end Cross was the clear-cut winner. And still…….The undisputed, undefeated, reigning and defending UCA Cruiserweight Champion…..Anthony Cross, CDCR- CSP Sacramento.