They’re New York’s Bravest – and Toughest.
FDNY firefighters went from fighting fires to foes in the boxing ring Friday night during the Second International Battle of the Badges at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Members of FDNY’s boxing team, including three EMTs, defended their home turf in front of a lively crowd with bouts against opponents from Georgia, Ireland, London and Yonkers.
New York’s heroes fared well on the night, finishing with a record 6-3 in the three-round fights with a standout performance from John Marrero.
Marrero from FDNY Station 3 took on DeKalb County Police Department’s Brandon Collins in a much-anticipated fight that was decisively won by the 26-year-old EMT.
Marrero dominated the match, landing massive blows throughout, cruising to a victory by a unanimous decision.
He was thrilled by the surreal experience of boxing at Madison Square Garden despite it being just the third fight of his career. .
“I’m still taking it in. It is amazing. I still can’t believe it,” Marrero told The Post before taking the ring.
“The crowd is amazing. I love the crowd. It feels amazing to be able to contribute to the Tunnels to Towers. We’ve been training hard,” he said.
Marrero got the calling to become a first responder after he was stabbed on the subway as a high school senior in an unprovoked attack.
The stabbing left him with a visible scar across his face, which he joked makes him look meaner in the ring.
After the attack, EMS and police officers came to Marrero’s aid.
“They put some pressure dressing on my face to kind of control the bleeding. Brought me down to the ambulance and continued to give me care,” he told The Post.
“I remember sitting there the whole time on the chair and then on the ambulance, like, what they do is pretty amazing.”
Eight other members of the FDNY had matches Friday at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Tara Ianotti from Ladder 29 fought Christina McCants from Atlanta PD SWAT — McCants won that bout by unanimous decision.
“At the end of the day, we’re fighting for a great cause,” Tara told The Post. “I wish it would have ended a little bit differently, but I tried really hard. I put it all out there.”
Ianotti was part of a record number of female boxers at this year’s event — with Nicole Malpeso and steamfitter Maria Fogarty also taping their knuckles.
Firefighter John Hamilton from Ladder 43 took on Jack Oakes of England’s West Yorkshire Fire Department — Hamilton landed a haymaker in the second round and won by knockout to raucous cheers from the crowd.
Ladder 24 smok-eater James Gennari took on Ireland’s Dan Hoolahan from the Garda Police, with the Irishman coming away with a split decision victory.
Nicole Malpeso, a firefighter with Engine 158, won by unanimous decision over UK Fire and Rescue’s Alex Turbitt.
FDNY EMT McGrath faced off against Garda PD’s Jack McHugh and the hometown fighter was victorious by split decision.
Engine 283 fireman Sean Dillon took on Eoin O’Neill from Garda PD — with the Bravest coming out on top in a split decision.
Patrick McKeown from FDNY EMT Station 18 fought Yonkers Fire Department’s Berto Rivera, who won in split decision.
FDNY Captain Mike Fiore of Div. 11 faced off against Jason Martin who repped New York’s Department of Sanitation. Fiore won in a unanimous decision.
All proceeds from the event went towards the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which honors the heroic deeds of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who famously ran through the Battery Tunnel to respond to the 9/11 attacks, and perished while saving others as the towers collapsed.
Tunnel to Towers provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children.