Lockport Native Versus England’s Daniel Hughes for the Vacant WKA Cruiserweight Championship

By John D’Onofrio
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

World Kickboxing Association United States Light Heavyweight Champion Amer Abdallah will make Lockport and Western New York history on May 14, when he takes on Daniel Hughes of Swindon, England, for the WKA’s cruiserweight world championship at the Kenan Center Arena.

The event would mark the first ever world title fight in the Lock City’s already historic boxing history.

Tickets for the event will be available beginning April 1 at the Lockport Athletic & Fitness Club on South Transit Road as well as online at Ticketfly.com.

By rights, the undefeated Abdallah, 38, should have already fought for the WKA world title. Last November, in a Kenan Arena international MMA fight card dubbed, “The Final Chapter,” WKA cruiserweight champion Gareth Richards of Wales, UK was scheduled to defend his belt against Abdallah at the Kenan Arena.

But Richards emailed Lace Up Promotions matchmakers just days before the event stating a visa issue had prevented him from leaving the United Kingdom. He was subsequently stripped of his title and Abdallah immediately garnered another title fight opportunity.

The news of Richards’ no-show was devastating on a boxing community eager to witness its first ever world title fight, but no more than on the resilient Lockport-native Abdallah, who has trained and fought literally his entire life for this rare opportunity.

“My team and his team know why he didn’t get on that plane,” Abdallah said this week.

“I’m not going to get into any details about it, but I will say that it was an outright cowardly move. Whatever he’s going through internally, I hope he musters the strength to overcome it and I wish him and his family all the best.”

With the WKA title now vacant, Abdallah (16-0) faces Hughes, the British champion and ISKA & WKA No. 2-ranked contender.

The May 14 undercard will be stacked with popular local talent and will feature not one, but two professional debuts. Popular amateur world champion “Son of a Legend” Joe Taylor will compete for the first time as a professional as will Lockport’s “Candyman” Eric Plumeri.

Abdallah’s company, Lace Up Promotions, is promoting the world title fight.

“Putting together and being granted rights to such a high profile fight wasn’t an easy task” said event coordinator Andre Hahn of Lace Up Promotions.

“We have our wonderful sponsors Seneca Poker, Mulvey Construction, All Metal Works, Darren Sparks and Scott Cain, as well as our amazing Western New York fans to thank for being so supportive of our events. And as always, we thank the World Kickboxing Association for entrusting us with this fight.”

Lockport has produced many national boxing greats over the years, including heavyweight Tony Ventura, who was trained by Angelo Dundee of Muhammad Ali fame; “The Fighting Schoolteacher” Tommy Hicks, who lost to Hall of Famer Bob Foster in his world light heavyweight title fight in the early 1970s; Pat Cuillo, who fought five world champions; Billy “Little Red” Hackmer, who was an U.S. Olympic Team finalist; and the “Duke of Lockport,” Jimmy Duffy, who fought as a lightweight and welterweight from 1908-1921.

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Photo Above
Lockport native Amer Abdallah will take on England’s Daniel Hughes for the vacant WKA World Cruiserweight Championship on May 14 at the Kenan Center. Photo by J Stoos Photography