“I wish I was up there getting whooped,” says Marty Crissman , 24, of Penn Hills. He’s holding a vodka and cranberry juice, staring into a fight. “Don’t you• I mean, I wish we could all be up there fighting.” Everyone? “All the guys at least. I’d beat your ass. And his ass,” he says, pointing toward someone in the fairly large crowd. “And his ass. Everyone. Unity, you know• It’d be fun.” In a perfect world, Marty. But in an imperfect one, people gathered Thursday night at the “Steel Heat” party to show their support for a chosen few — the amateur fighters of the Police Athletic League and Iron City Pro Boxing. More party than bout, “Steel Heat” is a strange, appropriate collaboration of violence and bare skin at The Boardwalk Entertainment Complex in the Strip. See, it started with seven bouts, arranged according to weight class. Then, systematically, there’s an R&B singer named Ambition who performs a few songs, then a bikini contest. Lasted about three hours. Totally logical progression, yes? Models from John Casablanca’s Modeling Agency approached, perky, selling raffle tickets. “Only a dollar! C’mon guys!” They stop to chat: “Wanna buy a ticket?” says Pam Coudriet , 20, of Oakland. Earlier, she mentioned that, at events like this, she has fun when drunk guys fall off bar stools professing their undying love for her. Her friend, Kim Metzgar , 21, from Erie, agrees. Metzgar said: “Yeah, sometimes they’ll bump into you, like totally fall, then ask for your number, like you’re going to give it to them.” Pathetic. Can I have your number? “No,” Metzgar said. “Wanna buy a ticket?” As she asks this, there’s a loud sound of boxing glove hitting face from the ring. The crowd erupts with a rousing “Oooooh,” and “Steel Heat” has its first knockout — Ryan Metz , an unattached amateur boxer, socking Mike Holleran to the mat. The bikini contest goes well, about an hour later. A parade of female accountants and social workers and preschool teachers strut their stuff to rap music. Diva , 24, a dancer who calls herself Shay Payne offstage, prevails, winning a yearlong contract with the Casablanca Agency. “I had such a great time tonight,” Payne said. “Everyone’s been so great, and I just feel … great.” She poses for pictures and smiles. “I just feel wonderful.”

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