Punches fly in annual boxing match

COUNCIL BLUFFS — It was for charity, good fun and an old-fashioned rivalry, yet the punches were flying Saturday night as police and firefighters slugged it out at the Mid-America Center.

That’s just the way the estimated 2,500 fans liked it at the Omaha Guns & Hoses Boxing Challenge, a competition between Omaha and Lincoln-area police and firefighters.

Proceeds from the event were to benefit a variety of charities and community groups, including Special Olympics and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Few in the crowd were nonpartisans. Red-clad firefighters’ fans filled many of the ringside seats and the east side of the auditorium. Blue-clad police supporters packed the west side of the arena.

Both sides cheered triumphantly when their boxers won one of the 15 bouts, including one between two women. Each bout lasted no longer than three rounds.

Toddy Stander was one of the few who couldn’t choose a side to root for.

She watched from the floor with her husband, local boxing legend Ron Stander, aka the Bluffs Butcher, who fought Joe Frazier for the heavyweight championship in Omaha in 1972.

Ray DeLoa of Omaha, who fought for the firefighters, said the boxers were competitive. He trained four months for his first match ever. His only previous fighting was done in bars, DeLoa said.

He said he was nervous but not scared as his time drew near. He ended up losing to Omaha Police Lt. Matt Lippold. But DeLoa said he was happy to fight for charity. “That’s what roped me in,” he said.

Omaha Police Sgt. Chip Ott said he wished he had trained harder.

“I think I’m going to be tired,” Ott said as he watched the bouts before his.

He said he became involved for fun but was a little nervous about his match.

“I just hope I represent the blue team well, and we’ll see what happens.”

Contact the writer:

444-1304, news@owh.com

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