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Abdallah, Johnson Get Off on the Wrong Foot at Friday Night’s Weigh-In
By John D’Onofrio
LOCKPORT — Tonight’s international professional kickboxing heavyweight main event almost got started 24 hours earlier than expected.
United States East Coast Champion Amer Abdallah (9-0) of Lockport and Milwaukee’s Jerald Johnson (19-4) exchanged typical pre-fight unpleantries at Friday night’s official weigh-in at Finnan’s on Lincoln Avenue.
More than 200 people attended the weigh-in, including Lockport Mayor Michael Tucker, local boxing historian Bo Bilicki of Gasport, LCTV sports broadcaster Jim Slowey, Fight Night referee and respected local trainer Rob D’Angelo of Lockport, a former kickboxer and fight night referee Joe Pagan of Fredonia and members of Abdallah’s training team, including Corey Webster, Liz Bouchard, Randy Butler and Gina Nowak.
Abdallah and Johnson are the main event tonight on a 13-fight card at the Lockport Kenan Center Arena on Beattie Avenue. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first fight to begin at about 7 p.m.
“The Gettoblaster” Johnson, who weighed in at 215 pounds, and Abdallah had to be separated by their seconds after exchanging words at the scale, but the mood was set for tonight’s heavyweight kickboxing main event.
“He told me I was over-rated and that he would expose me,” said Abdallah, who looked trim and fit, weighing in at a career-high 191 pounds. “I told him this was the wrong city to say that in. I told him just to make sure he shows up (today).”
Also weighing in was Newfane’s multiple martial arts champion Brian Irr, who tipped the scale at 175 pounds. Irr will take on Michael Sherwood of Port Colbourne, Ontario, in another highly-anticipated match-up. Pagan (149 pounds), a Lockport favorite, will fight Jeremy Savoy of Toronto in a middleweight title bout preceding the main event.
“I’m ready. This is just a little different experience,” said Irr, who’s making his kickboxing ring debut after years of claiming martial arts championships across the globe.
“I plan to just go in there and do my job. I’m just going to go with the game plan and we’ll see how everything works out on the day of the show,” Irr said.
Other locals on tonight’s fight card include Brock Menzel and Eric Pulmeri of Lockport and Buffalo’s Jessie Bilhinghurst, Tom Welker and Ariel Class.
Papa Leo’s will handle concessions tonight. The ringside doctor will be Dr. Margaret Libby of Lockport.
