Jennifer Zamparelli was joined on RTÉ 2FM by two New York firemen who are set to go head-to-head with the Garda Boxing Club tonight at the National Stadium. Listen back above.
"We'll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime as long as it's for a good cause" - this is the motto of the Fire Department of New York City's boxing team, says Jen Zamparelli.
Some of New York's bravest are stepping into the ring in the national stadium to take on the Garda Boxing Club, and Jen's money is on the Americans.
Despite sleeping (or not sleeping, should we say) at the hotel above one of Ireland's most popular nightclubs, the men insist they are fighting fit and ready to go.
"I'm always tremendously confident," says Jeffery. "It always comes down to training. Once you put in the work, you're confident in the result."
Although their work as firemen always comes first, the men insist that they manage to get a good workout in everyday whether they are sparring one another or going for a jog.
"Stay ready so you ain't gotta get ready," says Jeffery.
Fellow fireman Sean says that the FDNY boxing team and Garda boxing team go way back, and have been holding these matches for about ten years. This will be the first match since COVID restrictions have eased, and will commemorate the foundation of An Garda Síochána 100 years ago.
"The Irish do know how to fight," Shaun admits. "The UK also, we just actually had a fight in July with the West Yorkshire Fire Department. We won six out of the seven, but you know, our motto is we'll fight anybody as long as its for a good cause."
"We have the charities that we fight for and other fire departments that they fight for."
Bated by Jen to trash talk his future opponents, Jeffery gave a shout out to the gardaí:
"I'd say be ready because we've been training, so if you've been at home drinking or if you got one of those fancy Playstation fives and that's all you do all day, it might not work out for you. Hopefully, you've been training so we can get an even little chess match."
To hear the men speak about their lives as firemen in New York, listen back above.
