TOP CONTENDERS FOR FIGHT OF THE NIGHT
On the horn:
EDITOR IN CHIEF
“It’s
going to be entertaining because we both have experience,” Hagen told
SR with a smile on his face. “I think we’re going to be
in there and giving them (the fans) a good show. And of course I want to
win, I want to look good.”
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| WARD (RED GLOVES) AFTER DAZING SANCHEZ EARLY ON. |
PHOTOS BY: KIMBERLY WASHINGTON
SRMMA.COM continued our ongoing coverage of the United Combat Association’s law enforcement, military and fire fighter combat events known as Battle of the Badges on May 12, in Alameda, CA. The event was to raise support for the California Narcotic Officer’s Association Survival Memorial Fund (SMF), the Narcotic’s Education Foundation of America, and the California Narcotic’s Officer’s Association Region 1. Adam Ward, of the Oakland Housing Authority, took on the visibly larger Gino Sanchez of the Hayward PD.
SRMMA.COM continued our ongoing coverage of the United Combat Association’s law enforcement, military and fire fighter combat events known as Battle of the Badges on May 12, in Alameda, CA. The event was to raise support for the California Narcotic Officer’s Association Survival Memorial Fund (SMF), the Narcotic’s Education Foundation of America, and the California Narcotic’s Officer’s Association Region 1. Adam Ward, of the Oakland Housing Authority, took on the visibly larger Gino Sanchez of the Hayward PD.
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| ADAM WARD |
“I like that police, fire (fighters), Coast Guard, the military getting together,” Ward told SR (www.srmma.com) before his bout. “As much as there is rivalry, I like the comradery of it. It’s always good to see, with people training so hard, what the results can be.”
Although Ward believed himself not to be the power puncher in the fight, he stunned Sanchez early with a shot that put his gloves on the mat and brought a referee count. Sanchez hit Ward early on with a powerful right hand that had even Ward admitting it would be a short night if those continued. In the second round, Ward used his movement and counter punching to wear down Sanchez. The activity of the fight and constant movement seemed to tire Sanchez so much that his hand were visibly lower.
Although Ward believed himself not to be the power puncher in the fight, he stunned Sanchez early with a shot that put his gloves on the mat and brought a referee count. Sanchez hit Ward early on with a powerful right hand that had even Ward admitting it would be a short night if those continued. In the second round, Ward used his movement and counter punching to wear down Sanchez. The activity of the fight and constant movement seemed to tire Sanchez so much that his hand were visibly lower.
FIGHT VIDEO:
“I’m more of a defensive guy,” Ward told SR (www.srmma.com). “I like to see what they have and see how I can break down their game plan from there.”
That’s what Ward was able to do the majority of the fight, beating Sanchez to the punch and utilizing his movement enough to fend off many of the powerful shots coming his way. My unofficial score card 30-27 Ward. Mike Hagen of CHP - San Jose took on the number four ranked United Combat Association (UCA) super middleweight Jerry Ribeira, who was featured in a preview article of the event and works with Ward.
That’s what Ward was able to do the majority of the fight, beating Sanchez to the punch and utilizing his movement enough to fend off many of the powerful shots coming his way. My unofficial score card 30-27 Ward. Mike Hagen of CHP - San Jose took on the number four ranked United Combat Association (UCA) super middleweight Jerry Ribeira, who was featured in a preview article of the event and works with Ward.
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| RIBEIRA BACKING HAGEN INTO A CORNER. |
“The last time I fought was in 1985,” Hagen told SR (www.srmma.com) before his bout. “It’s a good cause (the events proceeds went to charity) . . . it’s something I wanted to do, something to train for as well being as old as I am.”
Hagen’s training at the gym he owns in Santa Clara, Evolution Training Center, had him feeling ready for his first fight in quite some time. Hagen spoke about his thought process coming into this match up.
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| MIKE HAGEN |
Putting on a show was the first thing on both fighter’s minds and the back and forth action of the bout was affirmation of the hype. Both men used lateral movement to duck and dodge each other early but the two inevitably came to land against each other often. The crowd had 20-30 people in attendance for both fighters but many in attendance were loud and enthusiastic at the battle happening in the ring. Hagen and Ribeira could have taken either the first and/or the second, especially considering the forward and aggressive style of punches both fighters came at each other with inside the ropes. The third round however was where Ribeira used his youth to land the more quality punches that momentarily got to Hagen at different times in the round. My unofficial score card, 29-28 Ribeira.
FIGHT VIDEO:
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JOHNNYWAUGH@SRMMA.COM
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