U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley-McAllen wins 7th Annual Battle of the Badges Boxing Challenge Sweepstakes Championship

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

Over 500 boxing aficionados attended the 7th Annual Eagle Pass Boys & Girls Club Battle of the Badges Boxing Challenge on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at the City of Eagle Pass, Texas International Center for Trade as the United States Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley-McAllen Sector won the overall Sweepstakes Championship, announced Eagle Pass Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Alfonso Mallen.

Local public dignitaries, business leaders, and boxing aficionados attended the charitable fundraising event for the Eagle Pass Boys & Girls Club on Saturday night, September 24th.  They were not disappointed as they witnessed seven hotly contested boxing matches by our finest law enforcement officers and young female boxers from the local Boys & Girls Club.

In the first match of the evening, Gabriel Gonzalez of the U.S. Border Patrol-Eagle Pass and Jason White of U.S. Border Patrol-Carrizo Springs set the tone for an evening of rock-em and sock-em fights to the delight of the boxing fans in attendance.  Gabriel Gonzalez won a unanimous decision over Jason White for the 178 pounds senior division championship.

The second match featured Daniel Reyes of the U.S. Border Patrol-Rio Grande Valley McAllen defeating Eric Navarrette of the Guns and Hoses Boxing Team from the U.S. Border Patrol-Laredo with a first round technical knock out (TKO) in the 170 pounds senior division, raising the adrenaline of the over 500 boxing aficionados at the event.  Daniel Reyes won the 170 pounds senior division championship.

In the third fight of the evening, boxing fans were treated to an exhibition match between two of the finest young female amateur boxers in training at the Eagle Pass Boys & Girls Club featuring Areli Moncada and Erandy Delgado.  Moncada and Delgado got into a slugfest as one Judge gave the first and second rounds to Delgado, but Moncada bounced back in the third round pummeling Delgado and the referee was about to give Delgado a standing eight count but was saved by the bell. The three Judges scored the fight as a draw and both Moncada and Delgado received a medal for their fine exhibition of boxing skills.

The fourth fight of the event featured Jorge Molano of the Guns and Hose Boxing Team of U.S. Border Patrol-Laredo versus Stephen Charest of the U.S. Border Patrol-Carrizo Springs in the 157 pounds senior division.  Jorge Molano won by a unanimous decision over Stephen Charest, including a third round knockdown of Charest by Molano.  Jorge Molano won the 157 pounds senior division championship belt.

In the fifth fight of the evening, Ronald Johnston of the U.S. Border Patrol-Carrizo Springs defeated Jorge Barron of the U.S. Border Patrol-Rio Grande Valley McAllen by unanimous decision in the 169 pounds senior division, earning the championship title.

The sixth fight in the card featured Guadalupe Ramirez of the U.S. Border Patrol-Rio Grande Valley McAllen defeating Steven Banack of the U.S. Border Patrol-Eagle Pass by unanimous decision in the 150 pounds senior division, capturing a championship belt for his efforts.

In the seventh and final fight of the boxing card, Jaime Rodriguez of the Guns and Hoses Boxing Team of the U.S. Border Patrol-Laredo defeated Jose Gonzalez of the U.S. Border Patrol-Carrizo Springs by the narrowest margin with a split decision among the three Judges in the 160 pounds senior division, clinching the championship title.

Local boxing aficionados definitely got their money’s worth for the seven match boxing card held to benefit the charitable, non-profit Eagle Pass Boys & Girls Club and can’t wait for next year’s Eighth Annual Battle of the Badges Boxing Challenge.

Eagle Pass Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Alfonso Mallen that next year’s event will add many new features and entertainment to continue the rich tradition of law enforcement officers donating their valuable time and efforts to benefit the Place for Kids, the Boys & Girls Club of Eagle Pass.  Mallen thanked all the corporate sponsors and fans for making the Seventh Annual Battle of the Badges a successful event.