Central California Battle of the Badges: “Unfinished Business” Event Recap
After Mother Nature brought an early end to April’s Central California Battle of the Badges at Valley Strong Ballpark, fighters and fans finally got the opportunity to settle their unfinished business inside the Fresno City College Gymnasium. The atmosphere was electric as 20 public safety fighters stepped into the ring after months of preparation, sacrifice and anticipation.
Every fighter represented their department with pride, sportsmanship and courage while showcasing the continued growth of public safety boxing.
Bout 1
UCA Light Heavyweights
Brian Barry – LAFD vs Saul Pelayo – U.S. Army
Brian Barry wasted no time announcing his arrival as a legitimate threat in the UCA Light Heavyweight division.
Barry came out aggressively behind a relentless body attack and mixing in punches upstairs. Pelayo stayed composed under heavy pressure and continued looking for opportunities to answer back, but Barry never allowed him to establish a rhythm.
Round two picked up right where the first ended. Barry continued pressing forward, throwing powerful combinations with intensity. After a barrage of unanswered punches, the referee stepped in and stopped the contest.
With the victory, Barry improves to 4 -1 and continues to establish himself as fighter to keep an eye on. Barry is a phenomenal athlete with a four year Division I football background and a three sport high school career, Barry possesses athleticism explosiveness and conditioning to make a lot of noise in a talent rich light heavyweight division. His performance set the tone for an action-packed night.
Bout 2
UCA Super Heavyweights
Ismael Alvarez – Fresno Police Department vs Beto Ortiz – CDCR – California Health Care Facility
Their first meeting was competitive, and the rematch delivered another entertaining battle.
When the bell rang Alvarez came out immediately applying pressure with a relentless attack to the body and head. Ortiz remained patient, using well
timed counters to interrupt Alvarez’s offense while landing solid body shots of his own.
Team Ortiz expected his body work to slow Alvarez as the fight progressed, but Alvarez never took his foot off the gas. His work rate remained high throughout all three rounds.
After three hard fought rounds, the judges awarded Alvarez the decision, keeping his undefeated record intact. Ortiz once again proved his toughness and composure against one of the division’s best.
Bout 3
UCA Junior Cruiserweights
Mike Valle – CDCR – Pleasant Valley State Prison vs Anthony Mata – CDCR – Avenal State Prison
It was correctional officer versus correctional officer in one of the evening’s most tactical fights.
Making use of his mixed martial arts background, Anthony Mata came out aggressively, forcing Valle toward the ropes and controlling the pace throughout much of the opening round.
Valle adjusted in the second, standing his ground and beginning to answer with cleaner, more accurate punches.
In the third round Mata continued applying pressure and throwing in volume, while Valle relied on timing, accuracy and cleaner scoring punches.
It ultimately came down to whether the judges favored relentless aggression or precise punch selection.
In the end, Mike Valle earned a narrow split decision victory in one of the night’s closest contest.
Bout 4
UCA Super Heavyweights
Roy Bohannan – Lemoore Police Department vs Zachary Martinez – Lindsay Police Department
Two highly anticipated super heavyweight debuts wasted no time grabbing the crowd’s attention.
Just fifteen seconds into the opening round, Bohannan landed a perfectly timed right hand that sent Martinez to the canvas and immediately energized the Fresno City College crowd.
Martinez showed tremendous toughness by getting back to his feet and continuing despite the early knockdown.
In round two Bohannan continued applying calculated pressure and landing another clean combination that resulted in a second knockdown. Martinez unfortunately suffered an ankle injury during the sequence and was unable to continue.
Bohannan earned his first UCA victory by second round TKO and immediately established himself as a fighter to watch. His athletic ability, ring movement and composure were impressive for a debut performance. We are going to be hearing a lot about Roy Bohannan, welcome to the UCA Super Heavyweight Division.
Martinez showed courage by answering the count and stepping into the ring for his debut, and his toughness earned the respect of everyone in attendance.
Bout 5
UCA Light Heavyweights
Ivan Mendoza – Kings County Probation vs Enrique Espinoza – Madera County Sheriff’s Office
Few knew what to expect or how Ivan Mendoza would perform in his ring debut against the three fight veteran Enrique Espinoza.
The answer came quickly.
Mendoza displayed remarkable composure from the opening bell. Calm, patient and technically sharp, he consistently landed clean lefts and rights while showing excellent movement and ring awareness.
Espinoza’s experience kept him competitive throughout the contest, and had his best moments when he pressed the action. He finished strong but Mendoza’s impressive first two rounds proved to be the difference.
Mendoza earned the unanimous decision and immediately announced himself as another exciting addition to an already loaded UCA Light Heavyweight division. Ivan is good and him and his team know it.
Espinoza once again demonstrated his toughness and experience against an impressive fighter.
Bout 6
Hoppert Memorial Award Bout
UCA Junior Heavyweights
Pedro Figueroa – Tulare County Fire Department vs Juan Hernandez – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office
This contest represented far more than a win or a loss.
Juan Hernandez and Pedro Figueroa had the honor of competing in the inaugural Hoppert Memorial Award bout, created to honor fallen Tulare County Sheriff’s Detective Randy Hoppert. Beginning this year, a member of the Sheriff’s Office and a member of the Fire Department will meet annually to celebrate Detective Hoppert’s legacy of service, sacrifice and dedication.
The fight itself lived up to its significance.
The opening round was closely contested, with both men landing clean punches and making the judges work.
During the second round, Figueroa began finding his rhythm, landing consistently while using steady forward pressure to back Hernandez up.
Hernandez continued battling until the final bell, but after three competitive rounds, Pedro Figueroa earned the decision and became the first recipient of the Hoppert Memorial Award.
Both competitors represented their departments and Detective Hoppert’s memory with honor.
Bout 7
Masters UCA Super Heavyweight Championship
Champion John Olson CDCR – Avenal State Prison vs #1 Cliff Lewis Turlock Police Department
One of the most anticipated fights of the evening lived up to the hype.
Lewis looked outstanding early, using excellent footwork, and crisp combinations to control the opening round while forcing Olson to chase him around the ring.
Olson made the adjustments championship fighters are known for.
John began cutting off the ring, closing the distance and landing heavy punches during the second round to even the score.
Knowing the title was on the line, Olson came out aggressively to start the third and landed several powerful combinations that forced the referee to administer a standing eight count. After evaluating Lewis, the referee stopped the contest.
With the victory, John Olson successfully defended his championship and once again proved why he remains the king of the Masters Super Heavyweight division.
Lewis once again demonstrated why he entered the bout as the division’s #1 ranked fighter.
And still… the reigning and defending UCA Masters Super Heavyweight Champion—John Olson.
Bout 8
Yvette Castro vs Lisa Chapa – Visalia Police Department
Three words perfectly describe this fight:
Punches In Bunches.
From the opening bell, neither woman took a backward step.
Castro and Chapa unleashed nonstop combinations for the entire opening round, throwing well over one hundred punches combined in an exhausting two minute battle.
There was no clinching, no retreat and no hesitation just nonstop action.
Following the opening round, Chapa’s corner and the referee made the decision to stop the contest before the second round, giving Castro the TKO victory.
Although Chapa came up short in her debut, she showed tremendous determination by standing toe to toe from the opening bell. Castro’s relentless pace earned her an impressive victory in one of the night’s most entertaining fights.
Bout 9
UCA Super Heavyweights
Harley Garcia – Department of State Hospitals Police – Coalinga vs Jorge Estrada – CDCR – California Health Care Facility
Harley Garcia used every bit of his height and reach advantage from the opening bell.
Behind an active jab, disciplined footwork and long combinations, Garcia consistently kept Estrada fighting from the outside.
Estrada found success whenever he managed to close the distance, with hard body shots during the second and third rounds. He finished the fight strong landing several solid combinations.
Despite Estrada’s late rally, Garcia’s consistent work over all three rounds earned him the decision.
Both heavyweights gained valuable experience and demonstrated they have bright futures in one of the UCA’s deepest divisions.
Main Event
UCA Super Heavyweight Championship
Victor Ibal – Fresno Police Department vs Jason Dias – Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office
The evening concluded with a UCA Heavyweight Championship fight worthy of the main event.
#1 ranked Victor Ibal and undefeated Jason Dias put on a technical showcase that highlighted just how deep the UCA Super Heavyweight division has become.
For three rounds, both men displayed outstanding footwork, ring generalship, counter punching and combination boxing.
As soon as one fighter would get off a clean combo the other fighter would erase it with a clean combo of his own. Without a knockdown or standing ten count it’s anyone’s fight. Two or three extra clean landed punches is not going to determine the winner. When a high level fight is left in the judges hands it can go to either fighter. If the fight is close you cannot play it safe, you have to take a risk. Or take your chances and leave it in the hands of the judges to decide. After 3 high level close rounds it was up to the judges to decide the outcome.
And The New… UCA Super Heavyweight Champion… Victor Ibal of the Fresno Police Department.
Dias suffered the first defeat but proved he belongs among the elite heavyweights. At just 25 years old, his future remains exceptionally bright, and a championship opportunity will undoubtedly come again.
Until Next Time…
The Central California Battle of the Badges, Unfinished Business officially delivered the closure fighters and fans had been waiting for since April. The event showcased the heart, courage and professionalism of public safety boxing while strengthening divisions and beginning new traditions.
From the opening bell to the final championship announcement, the evening was filled with memorable performances, sportsmanship and outstanding competition.
The road now leads north.
We’ll see you in October for the NorCal Battle of the Badges, where the next chapter of UCA boxing continues.