When the St. Louis Backstoppers gathered last Wednesday to honor a record nine first responders who died in the line of duty since last year’s event at the Scottrade Center, a crowd of 17,542 turned out to support and cheer on their heroes in the 21st annual “Guns ‘N Hoses” Boxing Championships.
The tournament benefits an important organization and is also a homecoming that allows trainers and fighters the opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces while police and firefighters face off inside the ropes for bragging rights.
As is tradition, this year’s show began with the deep rumble of bass drums pushing the melody of “Amazing Grace” through an assembly of bagpipes and forward down the same aisles that the novice boxers would soon travel on their ring walks.
A reading of the names of those who had perished and the ceremonial “ten count” provided a poignant reminder of the sacrifices that others have made while serving and protecting.
After Daniel Book of the St. Louis Metro Police set the tone quickly with a win in bout one, his teammate Brandon Johnson looked to continue the success for the men in blue.
It was obvious from the opening bell that Johnson meant business, as he refused to touch the extended glove of his flame-battling counterpart, Donald Tomnitz of the Eureka Fire Protection District.
Johnson employed a wise strategy early by directing a pair of lead rights to Tomnitz’ midsection, but he soon abandoned that game plan and loaded up on several clean 1-2 combinations upstairs.
Tomnitz showed his mettle by continuing to press the action, landing a jab and a straight right of his own in round two. The pair started the third and final frame quickly, looking to leave it all in the ring and state their cases to each of the five judges surrounding them.
The more polished Johnson would secure a 4-1 decision and begin a trend that sustained itself over the course of 17 scraps, with the crime busters prevailing in a majority of the matches.
Steve Womack of the St. Louis Fire Department did his best to try to tip the scales of rough stuff back towards the red corner as he took on Jarret Abelov from the St. Louis County Police.
Both began by measuring carefully with left jabs, looking like they were testing to see how hot the bathtub water was before snapping their hands back to their foreheads.
Abelov soon overextended himself on a missed combination and paid a fine in the form of a quick counter by Womack. The second round was filled with several wild exchanges that failed to find a home, and at the outset of the deciding stanza, Womack rushed in with a 1-2 like he was charging into a burning building during a rescue.
The back and forth affair would go to the blue corner in a tight 3-2 ruling as law enforcement and their supporters that packed the venue voiced their approval.
In the end the police bested last year’s margin of victory by one, taking 11 out of 17 and more financial assistance was added to the $2.3 million total that allows the St. Louis Backstoppers to help the families of those who have fallen.
Boxing Benefit at South Broadway
There will be amateur boxing on Thursday, December 4 at the South Broadway Athletic Club to assist with the funeral expenses of Kelty O’Brien, a friend to many who passed away earlier this month. Mr. O’Brien was also the brother of “Guns ‘N Hoses” ring announcer Mark O’Brien, a 10-year veteran of the St. Louis Metro Police Department.
The show will feature 10 bouts and include a live auction of sports memorabilia. General admission tickets and tables of 4, 6, and 8 are available by calling (314) 495-0820.