The Battle of the Badges returns for its 28th straight year

For the 28th consecutive year, the NYPD will go head-to-head against the FDNY at the annual “Battle of the Badges” boxing event on Friday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m. from inside The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Tickets for the “Battle of the Badges” are priced at $65.00, $50.00, and $30.00, and are currently on sale and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.thegarden.com. This year’s event is proudly presented by FX’s newest original drama series “LIGHTS OUT,” premiering in January. Participating partners include Village Pourhouse and Budweiser.

The rivalry between the badges began back in 1982 with the all-time record currently standing at 14 victories for the FDNY against 13 for the NYPD. After 22 years the Battle of the Badges returned to Madison Square Garden last year for the first time since 1986, where the FDNY claimed victory on the evening.

“Last year we were able to pull off the upset over the much larger NYPD and we know they will be looking for revenge,” said Bob McGuire, FDNY head boxing coach. “My guy's are pretty tough and have been training hard; it should be one heck of a show with really great bouts. Bravest vs. Finest in front of 5000 fans at the Mecca of boxing, it just doesn’t get any better than that.”

“The NYPDs Fighting Finest battle every single day to make New York City the safest large City in America,” said Sgt. Pat Russo (retired), Director of the Atlas NYC Cops & Kids Boxing Program. “On October 1, we continue the battle with the FDNY, fighting to keep kids off the streets and out of trouble by raising funds to open Youth Boxing Programs throughout the City.”

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the New York Firefighters Benevolent Association and the NYPD Fighting Finest.

Last year the NYPD utilized their proceeds to open the Atlas NYC Cops & Kids Boxing Program, in Flatbush Gardens (Brooklyn). This new boxing gym provides free boxing training to any youth ages 12 through 21. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s event will also go to the Atlas Cops & Kids Boxing Program with the ultimate goal to open a free boxing program in every borough of New York City.

Proceeds from last year’s FDNY Bravest Boxing Team went to a variety of great causes, including; the American Red Cross - Haiti relief fund, Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Walk, Adams Angels, Wounded Warrior Project and the Chuck Todd Family as well as other worthy causes. This year the FDNY Bravest Boxing Team, along with other community groups, plan to build a home for a true American hero. Army Specialist and Staten Island native, Brendan Marrocco, who on Easter Sunday 2009 while driving his Army vehicle in Iraq was hit with “anti-armor IED.” Due to the unfortunate blast, Marrocco became the only soldier to lose all four limbs in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. The hope is to have the home completed by Christmas Day 2010.