Charity Fight Night Benefiting Cops 4 Kids

Time for the “Red” and “Blue” rivalries to meet center ring at Pala Casino, Resort and Spa in San Diego’s North County!

THIS Saturday, March 5, you can watch law enforcement officers go toe to toe against members of the fire department in one of my very favorite annual events, the “Battle of the Badges” Charity Boxing Tournament.

This exciting fundraiser benefits Cops 4 Kids & Communities (C4KC), a non-profit organization founded by members of law enforcement that helps mentor at-risk youth through athletic, scholastic, and creative art programs, field trips and more.

Catching up with the organization’s Executive Director Jeff Penn, the former detective expressed to me how much he’s looking forward to their action-packed charity event. For SoCal fight fans attending this weekend’s bash, there will be two new and exciting additions to C4KC’s first battle of 2011. This will be the first time it is held at Pala–and for the first time, they will also be presenting a special “Ring Card Girl” competition before the live bouts begin.

Penn and the C4KC board, committee, sponsors and volunteers usually host two shows a year, so this will be a banner year for the non-profit with three live shows already in the works. Due to the demand of amateur fighters that want to be on the card, this Saturday’s contest was added. This installment and all future fight nights will benefit the Hemet-based charity foundation.

“We added another event because we have so many fighters that wanted to take part in this,” Jeff, a 20-year veteran of the police force explains, while I catch him during a rare break as the show nears. “We’ve really had a GREAT response from everyone. Everyone really enjoys it and it’s all to help the kids!”

The retired police sergeant works tirelessly in his efforts and every event I’ve attended is very well organized and extremely fan friendly. Their “Battle of the Badges” shows always sell out–so be sure to get your tickets while they’re available! For just $20, you can witness over a dozen matchups between policeman and firemen. Both female and male sluggers will set their shield aside–and lace up all in the name of charity.

“We’ll be having the awards and after party in the Grand Cabaret,” Penn reveals to me, “where we’ll announce the ‘Fight of the Night’ winner and the Ring Card Girl winner too!”

With the yearly competition showcased this time at the sprawling Pala Casino near Temecula, the night promises to be one filled with some of the toughest gladiators you will ever see. Used to fighting crime and fighting fires, let’s see how they fight each other in center ring! As I preview the upcoming program, I see names of “Kiss With A Fist” Foster, “The Headhunter” Palomino, “The Situation” Pascale, “Little Tyson” Lucas, “The Reaper” Leef, “El Gallo Fino” Vega, among many other peace officers ready for the weekend clash.

And with the show bustin’ out something new in the form of the ring girl competition showcasing a bevy of SoCal beauties, fans are in for a thriller of an evening. The gala will also include a live band performing later that night, plus all the action on the canvas between some very fierce competitors. The co-main on tap is Sylvia “Shotgun” Ruiz vs. Theresa “Delma” Bard and the main attraction will feature Justin “Bubba” Robinson vs. Matthew “Peligroso” Estrada.

The charity fight nights have raised thousands of dollars which go to helping kids stay off the streets–and staying out of trouble. Penn also mentioned that the organization will be hosting more “Battle of the Badges” this summer and fall as well.

Be sure to catch all the action this weekend. And check out some of my snapshots from previous Cops 4 Kids & Communities functions.

See you at the fights!

“Battle of the Badges” Charity Boxing Tournament
Cops 4 Kids & Communities (C4KC)
Saturday, March 5
6:00 Ring Card Girl Competition
7:00 Bouts scheduled to begin

(Subject to change)

Tickets (21 and older): 20.00 General Admission
(877) 946-7252 or (800) 585-3737

socalbattleofthebadges.com

Photos by Michele Chong