Boxing fundraiser to benefit local team’s travels

It has been a busy month for Louisiana state cruiserweight champion Justin “Ironman” Verdin.

In the first week of June, the unbeaten (5-0) Grand Bois native held his first weeklong Extreme Boxing Camp for kids.

On Saturday, he headlines an amateur boxing/MMA fundraiser at the East Houma Bingo Hall, 425 Grand Caillou Road. The first match begins at 7 p.m.

“We’re raising money for our amateur boxing team (Team Extreme) to go to the Ringside World Tournament in Kansas City and the Platinum World Tournament in Orlando,” said Verdin.

The champ will fight Cuban-born New Orleans fighter Miguel “El Toro” Aquila in a four-round, non-title bout.

The rest of the card features some of the best talent in the area, including Randy Billiot in MMA action, and members of Team Extreme fighting.

“We have Antonio Mignella, Jay Paul Molinere and Jonathan Guidry, who won the Ringside World Championship two years ago, and he’s looking to go do it again this year,” Verdin boasted.

Tickets can be purchased at Houma’s Extreme Fitness Center, 1221 Grand Caillou Road. There is a pre-fight ring girl bikini contest tomorrow night at The Brickhouse, 7934 Main St., Houma. In Ya Face Productions is the fight promoter.

For parents with pugilist kids ages 6 to12, Verdin will host a second Extreme Boxing Camp, July 21-25, at Extreme Fitness Center.

“I teach them the fundamentals of boxing, all the basics, and do some cross-fit conditioning with them,” he explained.

Registration costs $65 per child and participants get a pair of gloves and hand wraps. Verdin will have all the gear campers need.

Camp times are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.

When registering, parents sign a waiver for insurance purposes.