St. Pierre and McKinney will breed a champion n book it

We’ve seen a lot of great athletic feats in Louisiana sports history.

From NCAA Final Fours to College World Series titles and BCS National championships, all the way to a Super Bowl title, this state and its athletes have done it all.

Locally, prep teams have done the same. They have won state titles in virtually all of its athletic endeavors.

Football, basketball, baseball, track, cross country, volleyball and really whatever sport you want to talk about, it’s all the same n our guys and gals are better than your guys and gals n excuse my arrogance.

But one crown has eluded Tri-parish athletes and even Louisiana athletes for that matter.

There’s never been a local boxing world champion.

Never. Not one.

In recent years, there hasn’t even so much as been a contender.

I’m here to tell you that’s about to change.

Somewhere along these bayous, someone with championship blood is walking Tri-parish streets.

When Bayouside Boxing Club owner Damien St. Pierre finds him, the first local world champion will be crowned.

This place will go bananas in support for what will be our new athletic hero.

Take a few steps into St. Pierre’s Golden Meadow gym and nothing about the place looks like a sure-fire winner for world-class success.

It’s stationed in a not-so modern looking building. Heck, the place used to be a clothing store for us Down the Bayou history junkies that remember where Mom bought our blue jeans as children.

Once inside, nothing really pops out. There’s a ring. There are a few bags for fighters to slug. Tucked in the back corner of the gym sits a few workout benches where fighters can go and throw up some weight to build their stamina and strength.

But get inside the fabric of the gym and its creator and it’s easy to see why success will overtake this Down the Bayou facility, probably sooner, than later.

Let’s start with St. Pierre n a late 20s lifelong Tri-parish native.

He says he got into boxing and promoting after falling in love with the sport at a young age through his grandfather, who also promoted.

On the surface, St. Pierre is truly a very nice man and a true ambassador for what community support and camaraderie is all about.

He’s one of those guys who will give one the shirt off his back in the name of doing the right thing and he’s always about helping the youth of our area, serving on the South Lafourche Biddy Basketball board of directors and also serving as a member of the booster club for nearby South Lafourche High School’s athletics program.

Heck, if that’s not enough, the dude opens up his boxing gym to anyone interested for free.

That’s right … FOR FREE.

There’s no monthly fee, there’s no annual rate and there’s no daily fix.

He lets anyone, regardless of gender, age or color go into the gym without a charge.

He does the same for locals who have no interest in boxing at all, but who just want to stay in shape and use his facility.

“It’s a service to the community,” he explains.

That’s unheard of generosity and it’s a characteristic that truly is needed in any community.

When one gets to the core of this man, you find the side that makes me believe he offers more than philanthropy in his boxing endeavors. There is also success.

St. Pierre is hands down one of the most competitive guys you’ll ever meet.

“I hate to lose,” St. Pierre says. “In anything. I just hate to lose.”

With that love of competition in mind, the gym owner takes his budding amateur fighters on road trips all across the country to compete and showcase their craft.

They win some, they lose some. Regardless of the outcome, he’s keeping our youth out of harm’s way and chasing something productive n success.

When the road trips are over and it’s time to return home to get better, St. Pierre may just have the final piece in the puzzle that is a local world champion n coach Kennedy McKinney.

Most Louisiana fighters are trained by coaches who, themselves, had big-time dreams growing up, but ultimately had short-term careers.

A few coaches may have had one pro fight. Some of the lucky ones may have even had two or three.

McKinney’s done just a hair more than that and is a three-time world champion and an Olympic gold winner.

How’s that for a resume?

On a scale of 1-10, I’d say it’s about a 12.

Sure, I know some will say that having talent in a sport doesn’t mean you’ll be a great coach. I grant people that point and acknowledge that Michael Jordan was a flop as a coach and Pete Rose was as well.

This situation is different. McKinney’s not interested in being some egotistical know-it-all who likes to show off to the fighters how good he once was.

He’s motivated.

Like St. Pierre, McKinney’s goal in life is to breed a champion.

You can see it in his DNA n when he talks about current fighters, he lights up and has that fire in his eyes.

“I want to coach a champion,” McKinney said. “That’s why I’m here.”

McKinney explains that he believes he has some good prospects currently in the system that have a shot at greatness.

“They just need some work,” the coach explains. “A little polish.”

St. Pierre agrees and echoed his coach’s thoughts about obtaining boxing dominance.

“I want a champ,” St. Pierre says bluntly.

I believe him.

Together, these guys will deliver our area a boxing hero.

I can’t wait to be in front of my TV screen when it happens.