The original Rumble in Rio, staged in 2004 at Rio Rancho Mid-High, was so popular that spectators had to be turned away. Seeking a larger venue for the popular event, which pits policemen vs. firefighters in the boxing ring, Camacho, a sergeant with the Rio Rancho Department of Public Safety, worked out a deal to move it to Santa Ana in October.

More than 2,700 fans turned out to see the 14 bouts, in which a Rio Rancho firefighter was knocked out, but recovered in time to leave the ring on his own, Camacho said. He was transported to a hospital for precautionary measures, Camacho added, and was later released.

Bakas contended, in a front-page story in the Albuquerque Journal last week, that the Oct. 29 event "promotes sex, violence and the consumption of alcohol."

Camacho took issue with Bakas's claim about "violence." After all, Camacho said, it was a boxing match and, even so, fighters wore headgear, wore softer, 14-ounce gloves, had to pass a pre-fight physical and get proper training before stepping into the ring.

"When you look at what the event is about, raising a lot of money for underprivileged kids to give them bicycles ... (Sure) it's boxing at its core. It's a sport, if properly supervised and handled well.

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