A Hillsborough County Fire Rescue deputy chief is swapping his uniform for boxing gloves this Saturday, stepping into the ring at a sold-out charity fight night that has drawn the backing of Sheriff Chad Chronister himself. HCFR Deputy Chief Jose “Pep” Prado is set to compete at an event called “The Last Call,” with proceeds supporting Trinity School for Children and the Hillsborough County Firefighter Foundation.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced its support for Prado in a social media post, saying Chronister and “#teamHCSO” will be ringside to cheer him on. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
, Prado “puts his career on the line this Saturday at the SOLD OUT ‘The Last Call.’” The office identified Prado as an HCFR deputy chief and confirmed the fight is scheduled for this Saturday, September 26.
Per the sheriff's office post, the event has already sold out, though details about the venue, fight card, or ticket prices were not included in the announcement. What is clear is where the money is headed: HCSO said the event benefits both Trinity School for Children and the Hillsborough County Firefighter Foundation, tying the bout directly to causes serving local kids and the broader firefighting community.
A Growing Trend of Public Safety Charity Boxing in Florida
Tampa's event isn't happening in a vacuum. Florida law enforcement and fire agencies have increasingly turned to the boxing ring as a fundraising tool. Earlier this year, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office hosted its own charity boxing night at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, with deputies and firefighters from the sheriff's office, St. Johns County Fire Rescue, and the St. Augustine Fire Department stepping into the ring, as previously reported by Hoodline. That event raised funds for Diamond of Dreams and Special Olympics Florida.
Jacksonville has run a similar tradition for more than two decades. The police and fire unions there have produced their annual Guns N' Hoses charity boxing matches every April for 21 years, according to The Florida Times-Union. A quarter of ticket proceeds from that event, priced between $15 and $45, have gone to the Jacksonville Firefighters Charity and Fraternal Order of Police Foundation. One notable edition of the Jacksonville event even included a jersey auction benefiting the family of firefighter Brian McCluney.
What Happens Saturday
For now, the specifics of Prado's opponent, the venue, and how the fight itself will unfold remain outside what HCSO has publicly shared. The sheriff's office framed the moment as a show of solidarity, with Chronister and the department standing behind one of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue's own as he takes what the office called a career risk for a cause bigger than the bout itself. Whether Saturday's sold-out crowd will see Prado come out on top is something only fight night will tell.
