Louisiana High School Boxing Hall of Fame inducts inaugural class

SUNSET - The induction of the inaugural class of the Louisiana High School Boxing Hall of Fame was held Oct. 20 in by the sponsoring Louisiana High School Boxing Association.

The event took place at the Event Center and also served as a boxing reunion. A reception got things started at 2 p.m. with the induction ceremony at 3 p.m. and a post ceremony reception following at 4:30 p.m.

A total of 32 competitors and coaches were honored including two Plaquemine Senior High School coaches, Sam Distefano Jr. and Albert DuPont. Distefano won five state titles, while DuPont won four.

Former Plaquemine High boxers Shelby DuPont and Tommy Gascon are among the four-time state champions inducted. Two three-time champions from Plaquemine, Edwin Ourso and Gerald Boudreaux, also were honored. Another Plaquemine competitor, two-time state champion, Heston Daniels, was part of the induction class, too

The boxing association was recently formed to honor athletes who participated in the sport in the Louisiana high school ranks from 1931 to 1958, three centuries when boxing was one of the state's most popular sports.