Battle of the Badges boxing night to benefit 2 Staten Island-based charities

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Staten Island’s firefighters and police officers usually work together to keep residents safe, but later this month they’ll be on opposite sides of the ring, squaring off against each other for the benefit of two beloved charities — and bragging rights, of course.

The first NYPD vs FDNY Battle of the Badges in nearly a decade will be held on March 31 at 8 p.m. at Terminal 5, 610 W. 56t St., Manhattan. Proceeds will benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the NYC Cops & Kids Boxing Program.

The event will feature 12 bouts, some of which will feature Staten Island boxers representing the Bravest and Finest teams.

TEAM FDNY

Stepping into the ring for the Bravest Boxing Club are third-generation firefighter Sean Dillon of Tottenville and firefighter Nicole Malpeso of Dongan Hills. Representing Staten Island for the Finest team are Sgt. Jesse Peterford of Great Kills and North Shore resident Det. Frank Russo.

Dillon, who has found himself in the boxing ring for the FDNY team before, including a contest last summer in which the department took on England’s West Yorkshire Firefighters Boxing Team, has told the Advance/SILive.com that raising money for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides mortgage payoffs or mortgage-free homes to America’s catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, Gold Star families and families of fallen first responders, is incredibly rewarding.

“It’s an honor, it really is,’’ said Dillon, who is assigned to Engine 283 in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, one of the city’s busiest companies, and whose father, Donald Dillon, was a firefighter for 30 years. “I love the organization. It’s a big honor to help them, and it’s something that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.’’

Dillon, 28, has been boxing since the age of 12.

Also stepping into the ring for the FDNY is Malpeso, 30, a firefighter with Engine 76 on Manhattan’s Upper West Side who previously worked as an EMT.

An athlete since childhood, she started boxing in college as a way to stay fit, and quickly became passionate about the sport. Malpeso said she’s happy there is a female competitor on the NYPD team this year, as not every team has a woman to compete against.

The upcoming event is something both the FDNY and NYPD boxers are eagerly anticipating, she said.

“Post-COVID, I think it’ll be good,’’ she said. “Both agencies have dealt with a lot over the past few years. It’s a nice event to bring everyone together.”

Helping the charities is the icing on the cake, she said.

“I love that we’re working with Tunnel to Towers, just because it’s so close to home for everybody, for both agencies,’’ she said.

Frank Siller, CEO and chairman of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, said he’s looking forward to the event.

“I’m looking forward to a great night of fighting, and no matter the outcome, the real winners are the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Cops & Kids…