6/14/06 - article by Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com
Aucoin gets his chance to win an IBU title
It's been almost overshadowed by the intrigue of a main-event rematch, but Scott's Bobby "The Bayou Bomber"
Aucoin has a title fight of his own Saturday night.
Aucoin, undefeated with one draw in his 17 professional outings, will be gunning for the International
Boxing Union's U.S. junior welterweight title as part of a five-bout pro boxing card Saturday at
Blackham Coliseum. Aucoin will square off with Donnell Logan of Covington, Tenn., in the co-main event.
Claudia B. Laws/claws@theadvertiser.com
Bobby Aucoin, left, of Scott, and Blake Prevost of Lawtell spar on Thursday at John Stutes' gym in Carencro.
Actually, it's been only 3 1/2 years since Aucoin (16-0-1, 8 KOs) began his pro career, but there's
little question that Saturday's eight-round outing will be the biggest in that time.
"I'm ready for this," Aucoin said, "but I don't think it's going to go that many rounds."
Aucoin's bout will precede a card-ending battle between Lafayette's "Bad" Chad Broussard and Homer
Gibbins of Atlanta, Ga., in a 12-round bout for the IBU's welterweight title. Broussard won that
crown in February in a unanimous decision, one that has been criticized by Gibbins' camp.
Also scheduled on the card are two of Aucoin's stablemates, with Church Point's Jeremy "The Crusader"
Duplechain (5-2, 4 KOs) looking to avenge one of his two pro losses in a four-round bout against
Steve Verdin (5-29-2) of Cut Off, and Blake Prevost (7-1-1, 4 KOs) of Lawtell in a six-round light
heavyweight battle against an opponent to be named.
Prevost's scheduled opponent, Shreveport's James Johnson, withdrew, and Prevost's manager Kerry Daigle
was scrambling to find an opponent in what he hoped to be a stepping-stone bout to a rematch with
Martin "Smiley" Verdin of Dulac. Verdin (12-6-1, 7 KOs) took a split-decision win over Prevost on
that February card, and will face Shreveport's Anthony Stephens in another undercard battle Saturday.
Duplechain will also be going for some revenge, and not just against Steve Verdin. The Church Point
fighter lost a unanimous decision to Tyrese Hendrix of Gainesville, Ga., in February.
"I thought I was going to take him (Hendrix) out in the first round and I hardly trained," Duplechain
said. "I learned never to underestimate anybody, and now I have a lot to prove to myself and to
everybody else. I have a lot on the line. If I don't perform in this fight, I'm stepping out."
Aucoin doesn't have revenge as his motivation, but he does have the chance at a belt, and Daigle
said the recently-married Aucoin isn't taking anything for granted despite Logan's 8-7-2 career record.
"He (Logan) fought an undefeated Olympian (Chad Aquino) in his last fight," Daigle said of a March
battle in Tunica, Miss., "and he dropped him in the first round and eventually walked away with a
draw. He knows he's got to come back strong after that, so we're taking a risk versus a puncher
like that. He's dangerous."
Aucoin has only been in two eight-round bouts and hasn't gone that far yet. He knocked out
Travis Hartman in four rounds in November at Paragon Casino and took a TKO win over Michael Moss
in February at Blackham in two bouts that were scheduled for eight rounds.
"I'm ready to go eight rounds," Aucoin said. "I don't know a lot about the guy I'm fighting, but
that doesn't matter. I'm going to whip him."
Lafayette's "Bad" Chad Broussard has a rematch with Homer Gibbins for the IBU welterweight title
in Saturday's "Do Or Die" main event. Broussard won a unanimous decision in their first meeting
on Feb. 4 in Blackham Coliseum.
Here's what some local boxing fans thought of the first meeting between the two, and what
they're predicting for Saturday:
Teddy Seaton Jr., Maurice
"I was at the fight and thought it was a good decision. It was a close fight and not the best
showing by Bad Chad, but enough to get the decision. I sat ringside right behind the judges
so I had a great view. Gibbins was the busier of the two and that was probably the reason
some in the crowd thought he won, but most of those punches were blocked by Broussard,
who is a crafty defensive veteran.
Kenneth Landry, Lafayette
"I saw the last fight and I thought it was a close fight that could've gone either way.
I would have given it to Gibbins. Chad stayed on the ropes too much and Homer was
more aggressive and took it to Chad. Maybe it might be a little different this time, I hope."
"I heard Jason Papillion is on the comeback trail. I'd love to see him fight Chad. I think this would be
the biggest fight ever in the Hub City."
James Starr
"I watched the fight with Brad Solomon, one of the hot prospects in the amateurs. Brad left early,
saying Broussard is so far behind he has to knock that guy out. I, just like most people there,
had 'Not So Bad' Chad winning only three rounds at best.
"A couple of people, other boxers and promoters, have launched an investigation into the judges'
scoring, Homer Gibbins is the real champion, and he is working with Lafayette's own Brad Solomon
to prepare for this. Bad Chad is done ... no more hiding behind bought judges."
Pat Chiasson, Breaux Bridge
"By points, I do feel Chad lost that fight, but it was plain as day that he was actually the better
fighter in the bout. I know a lot of fighters, having fought in my younger days with (trainer John)
Stutes, and I know Chad has his head and thoughts together.
"Having Kenny Vice working with him is an advantage, as long as he enters the ring with what
Kenny tells him and doesn't just go for a knockout."
Originally published June 14, 2006
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