On
Friday October 28th, 2011 the Yonkers PBA hosted the 7th
YPD vs. YFD Toughman Competition. The night, which featured eight
bouts of boxing pitting Yonkers Cops against Yonkers Firefighters,
was a tremendous success having raised almost $70,000 for two great
charities, the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center and the Yonkers
Police Athletic League. The YFD came out ahead that night, winning 5
of the 8 bouts but more importantly, a great time was had by all who
attended.
The
idea for the YPD vs. YFD Toughman was hatched more than ten years
ago as many good plans are, over a few “cold ones.” While
watching the NYPD Boxing Team battle the Garda Boxing Team from
Ireland at the 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Ave., a
few members of the YPD, Keith Olson, John Mueller and Brian Moran
came up with the idea that not only could they have their own local
boxing event, but they could make it even better than most. The
three members of the YPD recruited YFD Firefighter Joe Golusinski to
help with this new endeavor and they began to put together what is
now simply known as “The Toughman.”
The
planning soon started to have the Yonkers Cops battle Yonkers
Firefighters in a boxing tournament. It was decided to limit the
fights to three, one-minute rounds to ensure action packed fights
and to lure Yonkers Cops and Firefighters to participate who had
little or no experience in the ring. The goal was to make the night
as entertaining as possible, making it part old school boxing, part
WWE so a live DJ, ring girls and even the Pipe and Drums of the
Police Emerald Society of Westchester were added to the itinerary.
On
December 8th of 2000, Yonkers was treated to its first
YPD vs. YFD Toughman Competition. Being the inaugural event with a
lot of kinks to work out, it was a hectic night. There were 14 bouts
with the first fight starting over an hour late and the beer running
out before the first bout began! Even with all that turmoil, the
night was a great success with the Yonkers Cops winning 9 of the 15
bouts. It was this night in December of ’00 that the legend of the
YPD vs. YFD Toughman was born!
The
seven Toughman Competitions have seen a lot of action. Having hosted
almost 80 bouts, raising almost $400,000, admitting over 10,000 fans
and having sold roughly 70,000 beers you can say that this event is
one of a kind. It is regarded by many as the “best night of the
year” in Yonkers. All the money raised has gone to charities
including the aforementioned Seton Pediatric Center and Yonkers
P.A.L. plus the Wounded Warrior Project, Heartsong, Ronald McDonald
House and others.
For
those wondering, this great rivalry is currently dead even with the
YPD winning three competitions, the YFD winning three and with one
tie. Much more important than wins or losses, the Toughman is a
great example of the benevolence shown by members of the Yonkers PD
and Yonkers FD, who in this case are willing to put their bodies and
their reputations on the line to raise money for worthy charities.
We look forward to raising even more money for charity next year and
to breaking the tie in the rubber match!
Provided by Detective Keith Olson, the Yonkers P.B.A.
President and co-founder of the Toughman event
