JUDGEMENT DAY: Verdin ready for boxing showdown with Folse

People attending a motorcycle convention at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center in December expected to hear the thunderous roar of sport bikes.

But the majority of noise came from Justin “Ironman” Verdin and Ricky “The Pit Bull” Folse.

The local pugilists ran into one another and exchanged salvos before a curious crowd of motorcycle aficianados. It was a thrilling precursor to their Feb. 23 encounter, billed as “Civil War,” which will be held at the same location Saturday to determine the Louisiana Cruiserweight Title.

Also up for grabs will be a $5,000 purse and resolution to a feud that has raged for more than two-and-a-half years.

“The whole Civic Center stopped and watched us because a lot of people thought a fight was going to break out right there,” Verdin said. “It was in the right place, but it wasn’t the right time. He wanted to shake my hand, and finally I said ‘I’ll shake your hand because you’ll be making me $5K when I knock you out.’”

Verdin is following a stringent strength-training program created by Dr. Rory White. He also enlisted the coaching expertise of Kennedy “The King” McKinney, an Olympic gold medalist bantamweight from the 1988 Summer Games.

So far, the training has been successful … and difficult.

“The kid is working very hard,” McKinnley said. “He’s doing more than he’s ever done because he never had a professional trainer in the past who really knows how to get him in shape.”

Verdin, who has been gaining mass to fight a larger Folse, is satisfied with the results.

“I’ve gained 15 pounds of muscle and lost five pounds of fat,” he explained. “I’m in the best shape of my life. But after the victory, you can bet that I’ll have a honeybun in my hand.”

Before indulging in junk food, however, Verdin (4-0) is setting his sights on devouring Folse (3-2) in the ring.

That’s why he’s happy the fight is finally coming to fruition.

The original riff between Verdin and Folse stems back to 2005, when Verdin failed to receive prize money after winning his second professional fight in a card organized by Folse’s organization, Pittbull Productions.

Verdin confronted Folse on numerous occasions demanding compensation and was eventually paid months later.

But the seeds of animosity were already planted.

“A few months after finally getting paid, he announced that he wanted to fight me,” Verdin said. “I tried to fight him once in a club, but he backed down. After that, my people got to him for ducking me. Now everything is set up for Feb. 23.”

Verdin admits Folse has a bigger arm and owns the advantage in experience.

Nonetheless, McKinney believes this can be offset with Verdin’s tenacity and determination.

“You can give Justin a good lick and he’s going to come back at you pretty hard and try to knock you out,” he said. “He won’t quit and tries everything I tell him to try.”

The game plan is simple.

“A few people have said Ricky has a glass jaw and some damaged ribs,” McKinney described. “We’ll be targeting the ribs and try to take some of his breath away.”

Whatever happens, Verdin promises a show that will be even more exciting than the verbal sparring match people witnessed two months ago.

“This is the biggest fight of my career,” he said. “I want to take Ricky 10 rounds so I can school him in boxing and punish him for getting into the ring with me.”

€ Included on the “Civil War” undercard will be Steve Verdin, Tom Dardar, Martin Verdin and Zane Marks.

Doors for the fight open at 6 p.m. The bell for the first rings at 7.

Riser seats (priced at $25, $35, $45 and $55) on sale now at the Civic Center box office or via Ticketmaster outlets (phone 800-488-5252) or (ticketmaster.com).

Floor and ringside tickets can also be purchased at Body Elite Fitness (985-851-4215) or Extreme Fitness (985-873-2582).