The Sacramento Battle of the Badges “Downto
wn Showdown” took place Saturday night under the lights in front of Vallejo’s Restaurant. The California State Athletic Commission judges earned their money Saturday night. The fighters on this card have huge hearts and came to fight and were not leaving that ring without their hand being raised. There were four split decisions, one draw and five very strategic fights.
BOUT 1 featured nine year old Joseph Yang vs. Skai Santos, 70lbs. Yang and Santos showcased their speed, combination punching, and footwork skills for the fans. Sacramento should be proud to have these talented fighters to call their own. Remember the names Joseph Yang and Skai Santos, LA Boxing Gym.
BOUT 2–165lbs: In a super middleweight showdown Jack Rivera, Sacramento Fire took on 7th ranked Jed McNamara, ABC. At the sound of the bell both fighters came out displaying good boxing skills and balance. The first round was spent feeling each other out, measuring with the jab and looking for openings. In rounds two and three Rivera and McNamara let their hands go. Both fighters would crack each other pretty good. The judges would have a tough decision to make on this one. McNamara was announced the winner by split decision.
BOUT 3–165lbs: 5th ranked Brent Burkhart, CDCR DVI vs. U.S. Marine Pittsa Pholkham was a three-round war fought at a fast pace. Both fighters would consistently land hard shots and shake them off. Burkhart was the busier fighter and outworked his counterpart throughout the bout, scoring with some perfectly placed uppercuts and hooks. The U.S. Marine would not retreat and would land hooks and right hands of his own but with more power. Pholkham had to wonder what was keeping Burkhart up. It must have been Burkhart’s iron jaw to go along with and his iron will. Tough fight to score. Burkhart landed more punches but it was Pholkham’s power shots that the judges felt were most effective in the fight. Pholkham winner by split decision. This fight seemed to be in the books for “Fight of the Night” honors.
BOUT 4-185lbs: Javier Banuelos, CDCR CSP SAC vs. S
haun Dean, CDCR Mule Creek. Both fighters would have their moments in this fight. Banuelos pressured Dean the whole fight. Dean displayed good balance and footwork but it was Banuelos pressure and ending each round with a flurry that would be the difference in this fight. Banuelos winner by decision.
Dean would dislocate his shoulder in the 3rd round but did not quit until the fight was over. Dean was taken to the hospital and treated for his shoulder.
BOUT 5-205lbs: Yolo Co Corrections Officer 6th ranked Adan Castillo put on a gallant effort in his quest to challenge the #1 ranked Pound for Pound Fighter in California Chris Barrios, LASD. Castillo knew he had to win and look impressive to prove he is worthy of a title shot with Barrios. Castillo had a lot to deal with in this fight. He had three different opponents fall out and three days before the fight Castillo was asked to take on a younger more experienced civilian fighter in Brenden Reavis and he accepted. At the sound of the bell Castillo tried to eliminate Reavis’s reach and height advantage by pressuring and pinning Reavis to the ropes to make it an inside fight. Castillo did good work on the inside but it was Reavis craftiness to get off the ropes, hold, and turn which made it hard to keep him pinned there. Castillo never abandoned the game plan put together by his trainers. He continued to pressure and close the distance for three rounds but Reavis was too much for him and was the better fighter that night. This fight would go the distance. Reavis winner by decision.
BOUT 6-240lbs: Zeke Johnston (civilian) vs. Bubba Sorgman, (civilian). Johnston took full advantage of his height and reach, landing punches in bunches. In the third round the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. Johnston winner by 3rd rd. TKO.
BOUT 7-235lbs: Shay McIntyre, LA Boxing vs 4th ranked Cleon Jones, Yolo Co Corrections, McIntyre and Jones was a battle of two big athletic guys. The first round was very close. Jones seemed to find his rhythm in the second round throwing fast jabs while never standing in front of McIntyre. McIntyre tried numerous times to land some heavy blows but Jones did a good job of anticipating the punches being thrown. Very close second round. McIntyre showed signs of slowing down in the 3rd round and Jones would catch him with some hard shots but McIntyre would not go down. This fight would go the distance and McIntyre would pick up a razor close split decision win.
BOUT 
8 -175lbs: 8th ranked James Smith, CHP vs. Aurelio Vasquez, LAPD. No one could imagine what they were about to witness when Smith and Vasquez stepped into the ring. This is a fight every fan hopes to see when they buy a ticket. Both fighters were in tremendous shape and prepared to battle every second of every round. From start to finish it was a give and take battle of wills with neither man breaking. Both fighters pushed the pace and threw thunderous shots hoping to find some kind of a weakness in each other. Neither fighter would show any signs of giving up or slowing down. The controlled aggression and combination punching by both fighters kept the fight very competitive and tough to score. For 6 minutes Smith and Vasquez gave all they had. Some fighters will go their whole career and never experience what its like to be in a fight like this.
Smith and Vasquez are great fighters and great people and will forever be connected. The judges would be forced to score another close fight. This fight could have gone either way. Vasquez, winner by split decision. This fight would receive “Fight of the Night” honors and perhaps UCA Fight of the Year.
BOUT 9-147lbs: In the co-main event 2nd ranked Brent Bugarin, Santa Clara SD delivered another dominant performance against the 3rd ranked welterweight Neil Tremethick, U.S. Army. Bugarin took control of the fight in the 1st round. He pushed the pace and never gave Tremethick the space or time he needed to establish any kind of rhythm. With The Kennel Boxing Club trainers looking on they didn’t have to say much. Bugarin’s pressure and body assault was working perfectly. Team Tremthick did not have an answer to the well executed game plan put together by Team Bug. Bugarin winner by decision. With the win Bugarin brings his record to 3-0, becomes the UCA NorCal Welterweight Champion, takes over the #1 ranking and secures a UCA State Title shot.
Main Event 
In the most anticipated fight on the card, the Main Event featured a rematch between the #1 ranked Light Heavyweight Matt Wurdinger, Santa Clara PD vs. the #1 ranked Super Middleweight Ricky Seward, Big Bear City Fire Dept. Seward’s strategy the morning of the fight was to box Wurdinger, switch to southpaw, work angles and move. Once he tasted Wurdinger’s leather Seward’s game plan flew out the window and it was back on, a continuation of their first meeting. (2011 Ontario CA Police Olympics) Seward is a fighter; if you hit him he is going to hit you back. This fight could have been fought 
in a phone booth. It was a great display of inside fighting, ripping hooks to the body and head thrown perfectly at close range. Both guys landed thunderous shots that would have dropped most people. Seward would land some beautiful hooks but it was Wurdinger who was more effective with his combinations, consistently throwing 3, 4 and 5 punches at a time. Wurdinger’s accuracy and volume of punches would be the difference in this fight. Wurdinger winner by decision. With the win, Wurdinger keeps his #1 ranking and secures a title shot with the UCA Light Heavyweight Champion James Davis, CDCR Folsom Prison.