Cries of foul don’t tarnish "Bayou Bomber’s" impressive KO win.
By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
Two weeks ago (Nov. 26th) the beautiful Paragon Casino, in Marksville, LA., played host to a crucial eight round bout between two 135 pound fighters; both craving a win to keep their hopes and dreams alive.
Travis Hartman, while only twenty-two years old, has been fighting since the age of six and compiled an awe-inspiring 156-13 amateur record which proudly includes three national titles. Entering the ring with a professional record of 5-2-1 (4 KO’s), losing his last two bouts, the scrappy native of St. Joseph, MO., realized a victory against the highly favored hometown hero would be a tremendous boost for the skilled fighter who has yet to get his career out of neutral since his victorious technical knockout pro debut in March of 2004 (TKO 2 vs. Anthony Nelson).
The ever popular, highly touted Bobby Aucoin, from nearby Scott, LA., was undefeated in his fifteen fights since signing his pro contract, 14-0-1 with 6 knockouts, and had every intention of staying loss free and progressing forward to a higher level with his seemingly limitless boxing future.
Hartman, along with his manager Jason Redmond, felt confident going in as the "opponent", and looked to this fight as their opportunity to salvage a promising career. "It’s going to be a tough fight; yet a win is big for us" reasoned Redmond, who quickly added, "Travis has the potential, and will be a name in the lightweight division in years to come."
Aucoin, whose aggressively exciting, action packed, always in your face-style of fighting has made the twenty-nine year old "Bayou Bomber" a Louisiana fight fan favorite, countered "He (Hartman) is inexperienced, and is going to make a mistake early; when he does, the fight becomes mine".
The Aucoin vs. Hartman bout served as the co-feature to Chad Broussard’s successful defense (TKO 3 vs. Corey Alarcon) of his IBU Inter-Continental welterweight championship, on the Rivas Warrior Boxing Promotions "Fight Night" event.
The fight, in both boxer’s eyes was going along as planned; until that fateful fourth round, and it’s somewhat perplexing end. During rounds one through three Hartman boxed well enough to be ahead on two of the three judge’s scorecards, yet Aucoin’s strength and tenacious style appeared to be troubling Hartman, who kept looking to the referee for help.
Kenny Saintes, a former golden gloves champion in his own right, who has refereed and judged fights for the likes of Roy Jones Jr. and Frans Botha, felt Aucoin’s swarming and pugnacious attack was agitating the less experienced Hartman.
"The whole fight, Bobby’s punches were long and wide and Travis didn’t like that. He was always looking at me and wanting me to stop the action," stated the eight year veteran referee Saintes, who further added "between rounds I went to the Hartman corner and told Travis I’m the ref, I’m not fighting. You (Hartman) need to protect yourself and fight out of the breaks."
Aucoin, who improved to 15-0-1 (7 KO’s), is trained by his father Bobby Aucoin Sr., who realized his son and star pupil was in control from the fight’s onset. " He was hurting Hartman and had him breathing heavy. He (Hartman) is a very good boxer, but needs to get accustomed to fighting in the pros; he just wasn’t ready for a big fight against the likes of Bobby."
Midway through the fourth round Aucoin again hurt Hartman and drove him onto the ropes. Aucoin unleashed a flurry of damaging shots, which included a picture perfect overhand right that sent his wounded foe to the canvas for a count of ten.
An enraged Hartman claimed he was taking a knee when he got hit by the brunt of the Aucoin flurry, but the most important ring observer didn’t see it that way. "In no way did Aucoin land any punch while Travis (Hartman) was down," stated referee Saintes, who further reinforced his actions "That right hand hurt him good. He (Hartman) was hurt and on his way down when he got hit again. I counted him out: 6-7-come on Travis-8-9-10."
While the Hartman victory marked only the second fight for Aucoin this year, the hard punching "Bayou Bomber" plans to stay busier and wants to improve on his caliber of opposition. Looking back on his knockout win Aucoin adamantly stated, "I controlled this fight and did want I wanted. The only low blows were when he (Hartman) was holding my head down, I wouldn’t hit him low on purpose and I would never hit a fighter while he was down."
The claim also drew a similar response from Bobby Sr., "I’ve been in the game a long time and I train many fighters. I tell them to always protect themselves and to keep throwing punches until the referee stops you, but hitting a fighter when he is down? I’ve never taught my son, or any fighter, that!"
A capacity crowd came out for the action packed fight card at the Paragon Casino; as Bobby Aucoin’s legion of loyal fans know they can always count on excitiment, hard fought action and good boxing when rooting for their "Bayou Bomber".