Repeat or Revenge

The Main Event for the Sacramento Battle of the Badges will feature two #1 ranked fighters in a Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator. The #1 ranked Super Middleweight Ricky Seward, Big Bear City Fire will take on the #1 ranked Light Heavyweight Matt Wurdinger, Santa Clara PD.

Going into the fight, Seward definitely has the edge in experience. He has more fights and has been training longer. Seward began boxing at the age of 14 and will be 35 this year. “I’m excited and looking forward to this fight,” Seward says. “Training has been going well and will to continue to pick up over the next few weeks.” Seward trains at the Sky-High Training Center in Big Bear City. His trainer’s, Bob Antonacci, Tino Calderon, and Maros, have been around the game a long time and have a lot of knowledge to share with Seward.

Wurdinger started boxing in 2006 at Redwood City PAL under Coach Dan Hance, San Francisco PD. In 2009 Wurdinger was hired by Santa Clara PD and relocated to San Jose. Wurdinger is now trained by Coach “Sarge” at Dreamland Boxing Gym. Wurdinger said, “Sarge, has helped a lot to fine-tune my skill and teach me more technique. His advice along with tough sparring sessions with some skilled young amateurs is helping me get ready for the fight. With a career in law enforcement and family being priority, I never get as much training in as I would like, but I know I’ll be ready.  I love boxing, and as long as I can stay competitive, I’d like to keep fighting.”

Wurdinger has half as many fights as Seward and no where near the experience however Wurdinger does have a win over Seward. Seward and Wurdinger fought for the Gold medal in the Western States Police & Fire Games, Ontario, 2011. Seward took the fight on short notice and did not get in as much training as he would have liked. Seward weighed in for the fight at 168lbs while Wurdinger came in at the 178lb limit. These guys brought out the best in each other. It was a very close fight with Wurdinger doing a little bit more to seal the victory.

It has been over a year since their first meeting. Seward will be right at the 175lb weight limit for this fight and will have the proper amount of training. “I’m going to give a good fight that’s for sure” Seward says. “I feel the only reason he (Wurdinger) won last time is because I ran out of gas. I’m going to test his chin and see how much punishment he is willing to take. He is a good boxer but I can beat him. I’m going for the KO every round.”

Wurdinger has his eyes set on James Davis UCA Title, but first he must get by a hungry and confident fighter in Seward.  With over 20 yrs of boxing experience Seward will have some tricks up his sleeve for the rematch.  “Ricky is a great fighter. He has a lot of experience, a great in-and-out style, with fast hands and good footwork.”  Wurdinger said, “But he is also a brawler at heart and he likes to exchange, which is the kind of fight I like to have.  Just like our first fight, our styles will make for some more great action in the ring.  I have no predictions; just anticipate a lot of punches being thrown from both of us in a tough bout.”