On the evening of April 1, a group of professional boxers, including several Louisiana locals, will go head to head at Chalmette’s Sigur Civic Center. The “Rumble in the Bayou,” consists of nine fights which are the first boxing bouts to take place in the St. Bernard area in nearly 30 years. And the fighters are ready to put on a show.

Bergeron v. Rodriguez
30 year-old Gary Bergeron from Chalmette is scheduled to go six rounds against his opponent, Fernando Rodriguez, as part of the triple main-event scheduled for the evening.

Though Bergeron said it is nerve-racking preparing for a fight back home, he hopes to live up to his moniker of “Southern Pride” by winning this fight. But there are many distractions, and when the fight is over and the promoters have left “I’m still here, and have to live with it,” said the Chalmette local. Add all that pressure on top of the skill and caliber of his opponent, Fernando Rodriguez, boasts a 5-3 professional record and has never been knocked out.

However, Bergeron said he expects to “go the distance” in the fight. “I know he’s tough. I’m tough too.”
“Gary is going to tremendously represent St. Bernard Parish,” said André Neff, part of the pairing of promoters from Silver Lining Entertainment and Keeppunching.com heading up the recent events announcing the return of boxing to the local Louisiana area.

Neff hopes the fights on Friday will bring in the crowds. There will also be a fan participation portion that includes a contest for the best “LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE.” A good turnout may mean even more boxing, male and female, and possibly some mixed martial arts in the future.

The fights begin tonight at 7 p.m. in Chalmette at the Sigur Center. The doors will open at 5 p.m. and tickets are available at the door.

Adams v. Joyner
Casey Adams, out of Larose, is scheduled to face Ivory Joyner of Arkansas in the first fight of the night, and Adams’ professional debut.

Adams is coached by his father, a former boxer himself, and trains with his little brother. His mother also works as part of the team, making any fight Adams is in a family affair.

“Casey may be all smiles” out of the ring, said Adams’ father, but as soon as the fighting start “he will turn into a force that keeps coming.” So they call Adams the “Cajun Bull.”

When asked how he personally felt about his upcoming fight, Adams was brief and clear. “Ready.”

That fight is scheduled to go four rounds and starts at 7 p.m.

Trahan vs. Bahreini
In one of the last fights scheduled for the evening, Chad Trahan will go against Omid Bahreini.

Trahan, hailing from Lafayette, remains undefeated in his professional career thus far. However, Bahreini knocked out an undefeated fighter in his last bout.

“It’s about who you are as a person,” the left-handed fighter said with regards to how he prepares and trains his body for the endurance of a long fight. “The body, the conditioning” all play a part for Trahan, who uses his instincts and proper planning ability to take him through the whole bout.

And Trahan is well prepared and well trained. He sparred with world rated boxers in Houston and held his own for 8-10 rounds with them. But in this fight, he will need to watch for Bahreini’s strong left hook. The same left that took down the last undefeated boxer that stepped in the ring.