The NYPD has held boxing matches for at least a century, giving officers a way to settle intradepartmental grudges, quick and dirty — “Something that cops would do if cops had beef with other cops,” as one regular put it. At events known as smokers, commanders fought traffic patrollers, detectives got in the ring with their direct supervisors, and officers squared off with their sergeants. But since (now retired) Lieutenant Dave Siev took over NYPD Boxing in 2000, all of this has ballooned into a larger spectacle called Smoker Talk, which was sanctioned by USA Boxing in 2014 and now draws contestants from the Sanitation, Customs, and Fire departments. (Some civilians are allowed to fight on occasion.) It has amassed a devoted audience: Matches at Madison Square Garden and Resorts World Casino attract crowds of more than 4,000 spectators. For now, Smoker Talk is still bouncing back from the pandemic. “What you saw was a small show,” Siev says. “We have to get the hype going again.”
Justin Thomas (pictured above)
Police officer, Rego Park
Did you fight a grudge match tonight?
I fought a guy from DSNY — Sanitation. Tafari Smith. I don’t really have beef with anybody, so I’ll just ask Dave to get me a fight for the event. But people who have grudges will contact Dave, and he loves that, because it means more people come out.
How long have you been boxing?
For eight years, a lot longer than I’ve been a cop. The funny thing is these smokers have always been charity events that fund boxing gyms for kids, and I got into boxing the same way. I was getting into trouble when I was in high school, and the cops in Suffolk County taught me how to box, how to carry myself, and how to be disciplined.
Where’d you get your shorts?
A website that makes custom boxing gear, trunks and robes and stuff. I got them to honor where my lady is from, Jamaica. I have her late mom’s name, Marlene, stitched on the bottom left.
Eddie Delgado
School safety officer, East New York
Tammy Brown
Boxing coach, Shirley
Chris Marcello
National Grid gas mechanic, Bulls Head
Ever fought a superior?
No. There’s one guy at my company who I do want to fight, but he’ll never be man enough. He did something to me, and anyone who reads this who works with us will know what and who I’m referring to. I’m not trying to start trouble, but they’ll know.
Hector Lopez
Police officer, Selden
Thomas Scoza
Sanitation worker, Sunset Park
Which team are you on?
Me and my buddy started the Sanitation team three years ago. We’d been boxing, and one day I was just like, “I bet I could beat up some cops and firemen.” I think I’ve made the events more entertaining, like a WWE wrestling kind of thing. Before one fight, I yelled, “It’s DSNY!” and threw a garbage can.
Ali Sorrentino
Ring girl, Westerleigh
Jason Martin
Sanitation worker, Springfield Gardens
Dave Siev
Retired police lieutenant, Valley Stream
Do you always dress up?
Only for the smokers or big amateur shows like Madison Square Garden. By now, pretty much all my cops and my fans expect us to get spiffy. I usually wear loud colors. It was actually pretty subtle for me to wear black tonight.
Michael Corleone
Boxing-gym owner, Franklin Square
Michael Corleone?
The funny thing is, in the 1990s, people knew they’d heard the name but didn’t remember where. They assumed I was an up-and-coming pro fighter. They’re like, “Yeah, I heard about you.” I knew they hadn’t; they’d just seen the movie.
Eddie Delgado
School safety officer, East New York
Tammy Brown
Boxing coach, Shirley
Chris Marcello
National Grid gas mechanic, Bulls Head
Ever fought a superior?
No. There’s one guy at my company who I do want to fight, but he’ll never be man enough. He did something to me, and anyone who reads this who works with us will know what and who I’m referring to. I’m not trying to start trouble, but they’ll know.
Hector Lopez
Police officer, Selden
Thomas Scoza
Sanitation worker, Sunset Park
Which team are you on?
Me and my buddy started the Sanitation team three years ago. We’d been boxing, and one day I was just like, “I bet I could beat up some cops and firemen.” I think I’ve made the events more entertaining, like a WWE wrestling kind of thing. Before one fight, I yelled, “It’s DSNY!” and threw a garbage can.
Ali Sorrentino
Ring girl, Westerleigh
Jason Martin
Sanitation worker, Springfield Gardens
Dave Siev
Retired police lieutenant, Valley Stream
Do you always dress up?
Only for the smokers or big amateur shows like Madison Square Garden. By now, pretty much all my cops and my fans expect us to get spiffy. I usually wear loud colors. It was actually pretty subtle for me to wear black tonight.
Michael Corleone
Boxing-gym owner, Franklin Square
Michael Corleone?
The funny thing is, in the 1990s, people knew they’d heard the name but didn’t remember where. They assumed I was an up-and-coming pro fighter. They’re like, “Yeah, I heard about you.” I knew they hadn’t; they’d just seen the movie.
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