Columbia, SC (WLTX) - The men and women that protect us train everyday so they can take down criminals. 

Two Midlands law enforcement officials are training for a different reason.

"Boxing teaches you a lot of discipline. I use to box from age 14 to 20 years old," said Emmanuel DeJesus a Columbia police officer.

"I picked it up a little bit, I started doing it my senior year in college," said Patrick Hanko a Lexington County deputy.

For Emanuel DeJesus and Patrick Hanko their day job is to protect and serve.

"I am pretty excited; I am ready to do this," said Hanko.

For weeks these two men have been jumping rope, working on heavy bags and sparring in the ring.  

"You gotta know what you need to do because if you don't once you start that match, you are going to get your head beat in," said DeJesus.

It's not often that a officer or a deputy have to use their hands to take down a bad guy... in less than 48 hours they will use their hands against each other.

"They sent out an email and I said if you don't have anyone who wants to do it, I definitely want to do it. I got a phone call two days later and I have been the guy ever since," said Hanko.

It's a showdown between the Columbia Police Department and the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. The winner brings home the belt and a bulletproof vest for the department.

"It is going to be something that is going to be donated to the department to help another officer who may not have a vest or the  vest is expired," said DeJesus.

"In my opinion it's the most important piece of equipment that we have everyday so the fact that I can try to win one for one of the new guys and I am a new guy myself is pretty cool," said Hanko.

For Hanko and DeJesus they say it's worth the extra work for the departments they love.

"When you work a 12 or 14 hour shift and come in the same day to train for this it works on the mental toughness so it has been good."

Boxing comes with a lot of trash talk but for these two they say they will let their hands do all the talking.

"It's going to be fun, at the end of the day it is going to be for a good cause," said DeJesus.

"I am just ready, tell him to bring it on and let the best man win," said Hanko.

If you want to go, call 1-803-576-2350 for tickets.