Officers and firefighters from across Racine and Kenosha counties will once again pull on gloves and duke it out to raise money for autism services through Easter Seals.
The 2015 Battle of the Badges starts at 3 p.m. September 26 at Case High School, 7345 Washington Avenue. There will be 12 bouts total starting at 5 p.m., but a title fight has not been chosen yet. Tickets are $20 at the door, and VIP tickets can be purchased before the Battle for $35 and $50 from the participants or at Wells Brothers Restaurant, Black Belt Karate Studio and Fortners Jewelry.
All rounds take place in a regulation ring and fighters are introduced with the full professional treatment of flashing lights and blaring music.
In addition to the fights, there will also be a basket raffle, silent auction and blind bucket purchases that include age-appropriate surprises for adults and kids.
Battle of the Badges was organized for the first time last year by Mount Pleasant police Officer James Kelley because another officer decided to put his money where Kelley’s and MPPD Sgt. Jason Vaccaro’s mouths were.
“We always joked about boxing one another, and that’s how all this got started,” Kelley said at the time.
His son, Logan, has autism, and the 2014 event featured five bouts – including one with women and Kelley and Vaccaro in the title fight – and raised almost $28,000.