Coming up on Saturday night at the BOK Center in Tulsa, it’s the 11th installment of Smoke & Guns. The event is a series of exhibition boxing and mixed martial arts fights between firefighters and police officers for charity. For the first time ever, Coffeyville is represented on both sides of the rivalry.
Robert Box is an engineer with the Coffeyville Fire Department and has fought in the event three times. This year, he’s trading the gloves for a cornerman towel, training both Coffeyville fighters.
Representing the police department is Sergeant Jarin Watkins. This is his second time in the event, having won his debut fight. Box commends Watkins for training while also being a new father and having recently been promoted in the police force.
Box has similar praise for Cory Turner, a Coffeyville firefighter making his Smoke & Guns debut.
Both Watkins and Turner are fighting in the MMA portion of the event, with Watkins in the heavyweight division and Turner in the 175-pound class. Box says they each have backgrounds in combat sports.
The event, which has grown considerably during its first ten years, has raised over $500,000 for charity. The police raise money for Special Olympics Oklahoma, while the firefighters send donations to Oklahoma Firefighters Burn Camp.
Not only is it for a great cause, but the event creates an opportunity for Coffeyville to be represented in the larger community. With this being the first time Coffeyville is sending both a fireman and a policeman, Box expects the town to show out at the BOK Center.
The Coffeyville contingent in Tulsa will also include prominent figures, which Box says is greatly appreciated.
Smoke & Guns 11 will begin at 7 p.m on Saturday night. All proceeds from ticket sales go to charity, and the fights will also be streamed on the Smoke & Guns Facebook page.
Cory Turner will face Trevor Fleming from the Craig County Sheriff's Office in bout 4. Jarin Watkins is set to take on Wyatt Murphy.
Photo Courtesy: SMOKE & GUNS Facebook
