LAPD vs. LASD in “Battle to Beat Cancer”

It was a knockout night at the 18th Annual “Fight for Life” held Friday night at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, California where the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) squared off against the Los Angeles Police Police Department (LAPD) in three rounds of amateur boxing.

Taking off their badges and picking up the gloves, 20 weekend warriors faced off in front of a jam-packed crowd that included many luminaries from both the boxing universe and members of law enforcement who all joined together in this 2011 “Battle to Beat Cancer” benefiting the City of Hope.

This charity function was a rousing success and was well attended by many familiar faces I know from the pro boxing scene.

Holding court at ringside was world champion Amir “King” Khan, who will be fighting Lamont Peterson this Saturday in Washington, DC. Team Khan was there with deputy sheriff/amateur boxer Art Gonzalez and they rooted for their pals Larry Swanson and Mike Hernandez. The officers trained at the famed Wild Card gym where Khan receives tutelage from the legendary Freddie Roach.

Also coming out to cheer on the brave combatants were professional prizefighters Raymundo Beltran (another Wild Card alum who also trained some of the fighters) and Aalan Martinez, WBC Officials Tom Taylor, David Mendoza and Max De Luca (current WBC Judge of the Year), boxing trainers Rodrigo Mosquera, Fortune Gym’s Robert Sale (LAPD Cadets’ trainer and “Rocky Balboa” technical advisor) and trainer Quran McMullan (who worked with the LAPD fighters) and LASD Boxing’s Hank Nagamine, promoter Ed Holmes, California State Athletic Commission’s (CSAC) Executive Officer George Dodd, CSAC officials Carla Caiz and David Denkin, L.A. Chief of Police Charlie Beck and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, among many others were also in attendance lending support for this worthwhile cause.

The evening showcased ten bouts of fisticuffs between L.A.’s finest. Not only battling for braggin’ rights, they were fighting for a great cause too. This City of Hope fundraising event is promoted to help battle back against cancer. This fight night started off with a bang as a live bagpipe performance got the ball rolling. There was also a prize raffle, a “Ten Count” honoring fallen officers and special introductions from the event’s emcee, Gil Carrillo (LASD Homicide). The former detective looked familiar to me. His associates mentioned he is best known for the “Night Stalker” case that haunted the Southland. Now retired from the force, the tuxedoed Carrillo made a great ring announcer in this year’s “Fight for Life.”

In this fierce competition, there were plenty of grudge matches, fiery rematches and “friendly” feuds settled in the boxing ring. There was even a raucous female bout between Suzie Gras and Alissa “MMA” Mills that the crowd went crazy for–after all, who doesn’t love a good “girl fight”?

With fight nicknames like Steve “Lennox Slugger” Lespron, Larry “Wild Card” Swanson, Alan “The Nosebreaker” Rojas, the 20 men and women gloved up to go toe-to-toe in this annual event. Some had limited boxing experience while others had medaled in past Police Olympics competitions. No matter what their skill level or weight was, the boxers (who ranged from 135 pounds all the way up to 240) really gave it their all.

The blistering action from all the amateur sluggers had the audience on their feet screaming in appreciation. Each brave pugilist received a new “Fight for Life” bronze trophy crafted by boxing trainer/sculptor and California Boxing Hall of Famer Steve Harpst. The statues were watched over by mother–daughter duo Amanda and Rachel Uribe who donate their time at these yearly shows. And each courageous fighter really earned this trophy for their efforts on the canvas.

With “guns” blazing, the sheriffs, deputies and officers showcased their skills in the sweet science. There were plenty of “Standing 8” counts, knockdowns and even a couple of TKOs during the combat as the amateurs returned fire as punches connected.

Risking battered and bruised egos, these members of law enforcement knew their efforts would benefit the City of Hope organization which helps individuals fighting cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. These fight cards first began back in 1994 after sheriff’s deputies in nearby East L.A. met a young cancer patient. They were inspired by nine-year-old Joshua Moreno and thus, the “Fight for Life” series began.

During an intermission, I caught up with one of the showrunners of the evening, George Lopez. He is an LAPD member and also a former 1988 Olympian. Lopez has fought in past “Fight for Life” installments as well. The officer took me over to meet LAPD’s Suzie Gras, who starred in the lone female bout of the night. Both she and her opponent, Alissa Mills impressed the attendees with their heart shown inside the ropes.

After congratulating Suzie, George and I walked back out toward the ballroom, where we ran into another officer/fighter, Deputy Jeff Flotree. Lopez and Flotree fought each other last year and both said they would face off again in the name of charity. Even though the men fought in the last boxing show, the two remain friendly outside the ring. “This is a great night to raise money for the City of Hope,” a smiling Lopez explained. “And we have total respect for each other.”

“We are fans of each other,” Flotree nods. He heads up the Norwalk Police Athletic League (PAL) program and also has a young son that boxers in the amateurs. Jeff is very dedicated to the sport of boxing and even showed me a tattoo depicting boxer Micky Ward, the late Arturo Gatti and “The Winner” bronze trophy he won in a past show.

While Lopez and Flotree weren’t in the main event this time, the pair had a good time applauding their fellow squad members.

And after some very close bouts, it wasn’t easy for anyone to pick a “Fight of the Night” winner. This year’s honors went to Mike “I Will Amaze Ya” Frazier and Josh Skeber for their nonstop back-and-forth brawl that had the fans roaring.

While the night was coming to a close, I caught up with one of the other event heads, Isaac Gonzalez, a former officer and one of the original “Fight for Life” committee members. I also met Isaac’s family who said they enjoyed this year’s show. And there’s already plans for the 2012 installment. Thanks to Gonzalez, Lopez, Nancy Lewis and their loyal and hearty group of committee members, sponsors, volunteers, fans and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Athletic Association, the “Fight for Life” crew can continue in their quest–and their goal of raising one million dollars for the City of Hope.

“The ‘Fight for Life’ event has raised, after this event, about $950,000 for the City of Hope Medical Center,” Gonzalez confirmed to me a couple of days after the gala. “Our goal next year is to break the one million dollar mark, and with help from friends like you, we can do it!”

Congratulations to all the LAPD and LASD boxers who put on an action-packed show full of fireworks!

Photos by Michele Chong