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They're going to get it on.

A federal judge Tuesday blocked the city of Albuquerque from carrying out its threat to discipline city employees who fight in Saturday's Rumble in Rio charity boxing tournament.

U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson said those employees' First Amendment rights outweighed the city's concerns over alcohol consumption and scantily clad ring girls at the event at Santa Ana Star Casino.

Five Albuquerque police officers and one firefighter are scheduled to participate, organizers said. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico had sued on behalf of two firefighters.

Outside the federal courthouse Tuesday, organizers took a few parting shots at Albuquerque officials.

"I'm disappointed that the mayor of Albuquerque wasted so many taxpayer dollars on this," said Pete Camacho, a lieutenant in the Rio Rancho Fire Department who is the event's main organizer. "He would be better off cutting a check to his favorite charity."

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez and Chief Public Safety Officer Nick Bakas threatened to punish or even fire employees who entered the ring. Bakas complained of excessive violence, alcohol consumption and scantily clad ring girls at last year's Rumble.

In court, the city argued the event would expose off-duty employees to unsafe conditions and would tarnish the city's reputation.

But Johnson noted that employees are allowed to participate in full-contact football leagues and said the ring girls are no more scantily clad than NFL cheerleaders. Off-duty city employees are allowed to visit strip clubs, he added.

"It seems that the Rumble in Rio offends the sensibilities of some of the officials of the city of Albuquerque," Johnson said. "But the fundamental right of all citizens to form their own sensibilities is really the essence of the First Amendment."

Last year's Rumble raised $36,000 for charities including Bikes for Tykes and Big Brothers Big Sisters. It has won the backing of Rio Rancho and Bernalillo County officials.

Organizers of the event have said they tried to address the concerns of Albuquerque officials by limiting alcohol sales. Ring girls will be less scantily clad this year, Camacho said.

Assistant City Attorney Beatrice Brickhouse said the changes to the event meant the city's defeat in court was really a sort of victory.

"They're conceding that some of our concerns were valid," she said after the ruling. "We're now looking at a fundamentally different event."

It's not clear whether Chavez or Bakas will be able to judge the ring girls' attire firsthand this year.

"I think last year they were invited," Brickhouse said. "I don't think any city officials were invited this year."

The Rumble includes 15 bouts between police officers and firefighters, Camacho said. A handful of Albuquerque employees who dropped out after the city issued its threat won't be able to fight, he said.

The Albuquerque employees also agreed not to identify themselves as Albuquerque police officers or firefighters at the event. Employees of other agencies will represent their departments, Camacho said.