Navajo Police commander wins at sold-out Gallup boxing benefit

By Sharon Chischilly
Special to the Times

GALLUP

Navajo Police Cmdr. Tyler Lynch defeated Casey Roy Saturday during the inaugural Gallup Red vs. Blue Boxing Event, a sold-out benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Gallup at the Larry Brian Mitchell Recreation Center.

Gallup Police Chief Erin Toadlena-Pablo opened the event.

“Let’s get ready to rumble,” Toadlena-Pablo told the crowd.

Lynch represented the Navajo Police Department’s Chinle District, while Roy represented Cowboy Iron Boxing Gym and Speedway Towing. Their bout was one of five open exhibition bouts listed in the event program.

The program also listed six bouts between law enforcement officers and Gallup firefighters, followed by a main event between Gallup Police public service officer Cole Jim, a civilian staff member, and Gallup firefighter Koby Lementino. Toadlena-Pablo and Gallup Fire Chief Jon Pairett served as co-emcees.

The event was sponsored by the Gallup Police Officers Association, Gallup Firefighters Association and Cowboy Iron Gym.

Fiscal sponsor Marissa Hutchinson said the event raised more than $16,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Gallup.

Lynch said he had practiced martial arts throughout his life, though never seriously. He began training three weeks before the event with cardio, running, heavy bag sessions and several sparring sessions with coworkers.

“It’s hard to explain everything. You’re getting hit so you kind of lose your focus every time you get hit in the head. It’s kind of like a flash. So, it’s trying to get out of the way and throw some shots back. But he (Roy) was strong. He beat me in the first and second round but I had more cardio,” Lynch said.

Lynch said he would participate again if organizers hold another event and would encourage other Navajo Police officers to join. He said the event strengthened ties between the Navajo and Gallup police departments and hoped a memorandum of understanding would allow them to work together more closely.

The event packed the recreation center, and many people were turned away.

Navajo Nation presidential candidate Myron Lizer was among those in attendance and praised Lynch’s performance after the bout.

“Our Navajo guy took care of business. I was impressed by our Navajo boxer,” Lizer said of Lynch.

Lizer, who served as vice president under former President Jonathan Nez from 2019 to 2023, said he spoke with Mayor Marc DePauli about possible collaboration with the Navajo Nation on similar events.

“We need to support community events like that. Not only for the aspects of raising money, but because it’s keeping our young ones out of trouble,” Lizer said.

Lizer said public safety would be a priority if elected, with more funding for police vehicles, bulletproof vests, ammunition and specialized equipment for new officers. He said the Navajo Nation, with fewer than 200 officers serving an area about the size of West Virginia, also needs updated technology and closer coordination with other law enforcement agencies rather than continued reliance on the federal government.

 

Published at 1:56 a.m. on July 20, 2026     Updated at 9:30 a.m. on July 20, 2026

A correction was made on July 20, 2026: An earlier version of this story incorrectly attributed the event’s opening line to Gallup Mayor Marc DePauli and incorrectly identified Cole Jim as a Gallup police officer. Gallup Police Chief Erin Toadlena-Pablo delivered “Let’s get ready to rumble,” and Jim is a public service officer, a civilian staff member with the Gallup Police Department.

Get instant access to this story by purchasing one of our many e-edition subscriptions HERE at our Navajo Times Store.

---