Flores and Vargas Make UCA History

The first title fight of Saturday night’s Battle of the Badges at the Hanford Civic Auditorium featured two fighters who have the skills and credentials to become a Champion.  Francisco Flores, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Dept. vs Walter Lavarro, Long Beach Police Dept. Flores and Lavarro shared the ring once before in 2009 when Lavarro defeated Flores via 2nd rd. TKO. to win the Police Olympic Gold Medal.  Flores has reeled off three straight wins since his only career blemish.  These ring warriors were anxious to get at each other and when the bell rang to start this long awaited fight Lavarro met Flores in the middle of the ring. Half way through the first round Lavarro rocked Flores with an uppercut that wobbled him and it looked like it would be the end.  Flores bounced around to get his legs underneath him while the referee administered the standing ten count. When the fight resumed Lavarro smelled blood and came in for the kill throwing hooks and rights hands with bad intentions. Flores was fighting on instincts and somehow survived the round.  Both fighters turned up the heat in the 2nd and 3rd pushing the pace and throwing punches in bunches. Flores and Lavarro’s tolerance for pain, desire and willingness to win is second to none. There is no better way to earn respect as a fighter than by fighting. This was a tough, brutal, punishing, slugfest. This is what you get when you have the best Jr. Welterweights in the state going at it. In the end it was Francisco Flores who would be announced the new UCA Jr Welterweight State Champion

UCA Scoring is on a ten point must system and Championship Title fights cannot end in a draw. When the scorecards indicate a fight ending a draw the judges will vote on who they thought won the fight. Flores and Lavarro ended in a draw and Flores was awarded the win 2-1.

DJ Vargas, Avenal Police Dept. and Ricky Seward, Big Bear City Fire Dept. brought speed, power, athleticism, and heart into the ring as they looked to make history and become the first Middleweight State Champion. The question on everyone’s mind was, can Vargas still fight at his best after being out of the ring nearly three years and come back and take on the intelligent boxer-puncher Seward. The answer is yes. Vargas put on a brilliant performance of footwork, speed and ring knowledge against the crafty veteran Seward. Vargas game plan was simple, hit and not get hit. Seward pressed the action and was ready to engage but Vargas kept circling, moving in and out not giving Seward a chance to set. Vargas used his footwork, speed and ring generalship to carve out a decision victory over Seward who gave a good account of himself.  The UCA Middleweight State Championship belt has a new owner and his name is DJ Vargas from Avenal Police Dept.