 Photo Special to the Advertiser/Robbie Davis Professional boxer Jaun De La Rosa, left - who was undefeated on the national network program The Contender - announced Thursday a rematch with Monroe's Mikel Williams, right, for May 12 at Paragon Casino's all-new Mari Center. The fight will be De La Rosa's chance to avenge his only loss, a TKO against Williams. The fight night is Mickey Daigle's first promotion, and tickets are available through TicketMaster. Acadiana's two most successful active professional boxers will return to the ring after extended absences on Saturday, May 12. Bobby "The Bayou Bomber" Aucoin of Scott and Kasha "The Fighting Marine" Chamblin will both appear on the "Redemption or Retirement" card scheduled that night at the Paragon Casino Resort's Mari Center in Marksville. Aucoin has been out of action since last August when he improved his pro record to 18-0-1 at the Paragon when he knocked out Tyrone Wiggins in the third round of their junior welterweight (140-pound) bout. Chamblin's last bout was a little more recent but a little more remote. She last stepped in a ring in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 3, when she lost to home-country product Ina Menzer by eighth-round knockout in a fight for the Women's International Boxing Federation (WIBF) world featherweight title. Neither Chamblin (8-1) nor Aucoin have opponents locked in on the undercard, which will precede a main-event bout matching Juan de la Rosa against Mikel Williams. Also on the undercard is unbeaten Alexandria fighter Health Nichols (3-0). Tickets for the bout card are available at the Paragon, online at paragoncasinoresort.com or by phone at 1-800-WIN-1-WIN. Tickets are also available through TicketMaster outlets. Aucoin's eight-month layoff wasn't due to injury or a lack of desire. Quite the contrary, the current International Boxing Union (IBU) U.S. junior welterweight title holder's been trying to find opponents. "I don't like the fact that he hasn't fought in 10 months," said trainer and father Bobby Aucoin, Sr. "I would have liked him to stay active, fighting every three or four months. But Bobby hasn't let anything get to his mind." It's not like his most recent bouts have kept him much more active. Aucoin stopped Wiggins early in the third round back in August, and before that he only had to go two rounds of a scheduled eight in winning the IBU title against Donnell Logan at Blackham Coliseum. He'll hope for more than rust removal in the May 12 co-main event. A win would likely vault him onto a televised card and possibly a shot at a more prestigious U.S. or North American title. But he's ready for whatever comes after the Paragon bout. "I never stop training," said the younger Aucoin. "A lot of people when they are not fighting stop training, but I do that all year round." Chamblin was forced to take time off after her world title fight, but it wasn't due to that bout. A thumb injury in training shortly after her appearance in Germany pushed her time frame back. "I'm ready to get back in there," Chamblin said. "I don't care who it's against. I'm more than ready." Chamblin, a graduate of Acadiana High who has fought and won twice at the Paragon, has to work her boxing around time with her husband and son, school and work. But no one ever questions her devotion to the sport. "It's something I do on the side, just for fun," said the former Marine drill instructor. "I've got a full-time job, I go to school, my son's in little league. I'm rushing to get it all done. But I'm still in the gym. Boxing is just a passion for me." Chamblin took an unbeaten record to Berlin and was nearly even with the unbeaten and six-time defending world champion Menzer, before a straight right hand sent her down for the first time in her career. The referee stopped the bout although Chamblin said she was ready to continue. "My record may have suffered a loss, but I hadn't been beaten," she said. "I fought really tough against a champion, and I was a little down coming home without the belt." "All three judges had it four rounds for Menzer, two for Kasha and one even heading into the eighth," said trainer and manager Beau Williford. "But it was good experience for her facing that level of competition. She's got great determination and a strong will to win." Originally published April 30, 2007 
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