Lathan Meyers, a volunteer firefighter with Natchitoches Parish Fire District 6, won the 160-pound title belt at the Battle of the Badges charity competition Aug. 12 in West Monroe.
Monroe City Battle of the Badges is a non-profit amateur boxing show that features policemen (Team Police) versus firemen (Team Fire) from all over the south.
Meyers beat the reigning title holder for the 160-pound division and it was his first boxing match. He learned of the competition three months in advance and wanted to participate. Boxing and MMA have always been his passion, so Meyers said it was great to finally compete.
Meyers first became interested in karate as a kid. He trained in judo throughout high school and then became involved in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He found his home at Light City Martial Arts in Natchitoches. Originally from Many, Meyers moved to Natchitoches at the beginning of the year to attend Northwestern State University where he plans to major in addiction studies.
With three months to train for the big event, he reached out to Coach Craig Sylvia, Jimmy Woodel and Jeff Cox for help.
“The hardest part was the diet,” said Meyers. “I love food and I was put on a strict regimen, so I couldn’t eat carbs, caffeine or sugar. I love coffee so that was difficult for me.”
Meyers says people expected him to be nervous for his first official boxing match, but he was ready to have fun after working so hard at his training.
“It was all thanks to the complete confidence and trust I put in my coach and training partners who got me ready to enter the ring,” he said.
Other Natchitoches contenders included Jonathan Roberts and Brandon Simon who won their battles for Team Blue, and Roosevelt Washington who fought for Team Fire.
The event raises money for select charities. The policemen fought for the Jake Owen Raborn Foundation, and the firemen fought for Med-Camps of Louisiana, Inc. The Jake Owen Raborn Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to financially supporting families enduring pediatric cancer, as well as providing financial support to organizations and facilities that care for families enduring pediatric cancer. Med-Camps of Louisiana provides one week of camp at no charge to over 5,000 children living throughout Louisiana with varying illnesses and disabilities.