Tuesday, April 9, 2019 - 4:32pm By The Leader Staff
Naval Air Station Lemoore's Erick Blue (left) fights Air Force fighter Norberto Cano Saturday night (April 6) in the "Battle of the Badges" held in Hanford's Civic Auditorium.
Naval Air Station Lemoore's Erick Blue (left) fights Air Force fighter Norberto Cano Saturday night (April 6) in the "Battle of the Badges" held in Hanford's Civic Auditorium.
Gary Feinstein/Feinsteinfotos

They were fighting up a storm Saturday night (April 6) in Hanford’s Civic Auditorium. Fortunately, the organized brawling was all for a good cause as Kings County’s largest city hosted United Combat Association’s (UCA) “Battle of the Badges,” an event that unites police officers, firefighters, and military for a night of public safety boxing.

Saturday’s event also had a local military bent as four Lemoore Naval Air Station sailors were among the myriad of fighters who competed.

Local charities and programs have also benefitted from “Battle of the Badges.”  Nichole Martinez, a media person with UCA, told The Leader money raised by their events often go to help the families of fallen officers.

A packed house at the Civic Auditorium also managed to raise over $2,000 for a Merced Police Department detective who recently passed away. “This was our biggest event yet. The Civic Auditorium was fully packed, and we are grateful,” stated Martinez. “We don’t have a total for our Fallen Officers Fund yet, but we do have a total for Detective Henderson who worked for the Merced Police Department (and) recently passed. We raised $2,023 in a matter of minutes. It was awesome, and we are truly blessed to have been able to help.”

Sterling Ingram, also of NAS Lemoore, battles Hanford Police Officer DJ Vargas in a finals bout.
Sterling Ingram, also of NAS Lemoore, battles Hanford Police Officer DJ Vargas in a finals bout.
Gary Feinstein/Feinsteinfotos

The United Combat Association is a ranking, sanctioning and promotional organization solely for public safety boxing. The (UCA) brings together peace officers, firefighters, and military personnel in a competitive sportsmanship boxing competition, the focus being to increase participation, build camaraderie, solidarity, among the diverse agencies, organizations, and departments.

The UCA’s goal is to spread public safety boxing worldwide and give aspiring public safety boxers who put their lives on the line every day the chance to make a name for themselves by publicly recognizing their talent in the ring.

Many worthwhile charities have benefitted from UCA promoted public safety boxing events, including the Firefighters Burn Institute, Sacramento Sheriff’s Toy Project, Fallen Officers Resource Fund, Widows and Orphans, Fallen Warriors Memorial Organization, Chicano Correctional Workers Association, Richmond Police Activities League, Richmond Police Dept. Explorers, Hanford Police Dept. Explorer, Avenal Police Dept. Explorers, USA Boxing, AMR, Cops 4 Kids & Communities, Multiple Sclerosis Race to Erase MS, Hanford PAL, and the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation.