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Joe Taylor Vies for WKA Title in Main Event Saturday at the Kenan Arena

By John D’Onofrio
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

Lace Up Promotions returns this Saturday to Lockport’s historic Kenan Center Arena to promote an unprecedented event featuring five title fights dubbing it, “A Night of Champions.”

The Main Event, featuring hometown hero “The Son of a Legend” Joe Taylor, will be for the World Kickboxing Association United States Light Heavyweight crown.

Lace Up Promotions CEO Amer Abdallah said four of the five title fights will be for promotional titles, with the Taylor versus Johnson bout for the World Kickboxing Association championship. Taylor faces veteran Jay Johnson in a five-round K-1 kickboxing title bout.

“We’re proud to continue to build local champions and give them a platform to showcase their commitment to their craft,” said Abdallah, who grew up in Lockport, won a world amateur title then and became the WKA professional Cruiserweight world champion with a win here, defending it as well at the Kenan.

“It’s a blessing to be fighting in Lockport for the United States title,” Taylor said. “My friend and manager, Amer helped make a lot of my dreams come true and I appreciate all the advice and knowledge he has shared with me to get me to this point. I’m also thankful for my coach, Corey Webster, who has trained me over the past six years and all of my family, friends and supporters. I truly appreciate and love them for all of their love and support.”

Although many WNY fans will come for the undercard fights, all eyes will be on the Main Event which has the Lock City buzzing.

“Joe has had a historic run during his professional career and has done things no other Lockport based fighter has been able to accomplish. On Saturday night, he has to maximize this opportunity and add it to his legacy” Abdallah said.

“I’m going to give the fans what they want” Taylor added. “And the fans want a knockout.”

Lockport’s “Warrior Princess” Vanhessa Tankersly, will put her undefeated record on the line as she faces Syracuse-based Olivia Matura in a Junior Lace Up Promotions Title fight. Tankersly, who’s last two performances were knockout victories at the Kenan Arena, trains under Joe Taylor at the Team Taylor Gym downtown.

SPAR Self Defense’s “Iron Spartan” Javier Figueroa, who has worked his way to the No. 1 contender position, will take on Canadian head Muay Thai instructor Kru Rich Kniff for the Lace Up Promotions Muay Thai Title. Figueroa is coming off of a huge win in Syracuse last month.

“I’ve never trained harder for anything in my life as I have for this title fight on Saturday,” Figueroa said.

Five Star Martial Art’s up and coming star, David “Twitch” Firenze will battle Western New York MMA’s Sean Doyle for the Lace Up Promotions Welterweight Title. “Both fighters have faced ups and downs in their careers and I assure you, given the opportunity on June 8, will do everything it takes to win this fight,” Abdallah said.

Buffalo-based Jessie Billinghurst of Matteo’s Malitia will take on heavy-hitting E.J. Johnson of Southtowns MMA for the Lace Up Promotions Middleweight title. Billinghurst and Johnson both only have one loss on their records and have build impressive wins over the past year to land this matchup, Abdallah said.

Tickets for Saturday’s fight card are available on-line only, or at the door Saturday night.

“A Night of Champions” is sponsored by Mulvey Construction, All Metal Works, Molinaro’s Restaraunt & Executive Landscaping.

Doors will open at 5 p.m., with the opening bell expected at 6 p.m.

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Photo Above
Lockport’s Joe Taylor, left, has his arms raised at boxing’s mecca Madison Square Garden in New York City, after his 2017 victory there, becoming the only Lock City fighter in history to win a professional fight there. Taylor will vie for the United States WKA light heavyweight championship this Saturday night at the Kenan Arena.

PRO KICKFIGHTING: Syracuse’s VanNostrand is co-main event on ESPN this Friday.

Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

Lockport’s “Son of a Legend” Joe Taylor will make a historic, nationally-televised second appearance this Friday night at the most famous arena in the world, New York City’s Madison Square Garden; and joining him will be another long-time, Lockport favorite and among the greatest talents ever to grace the Kenan Arena ring, Syracuse’s Kevin VanNostrand.

Taylor (5-1), who recently opened his own, new Lockport gym, is scheduled to take on Jacob “The Nightmare” Rodriguez (2-2) of Victoria, Texas on GLORY Kickboxing’s “Super Fight Series,” which will air just prior to the main card on the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN).

“I always thank God first, along with my amazing family, community and my sponsors for their constant support of my career,” Taylor said.

“Thanks to my friend and mentor, Amer Abdallah, the doors were opened. On Friday, I will put on a show and, God willing, get a huge win at Madison Square Garden. Training camp is over and my confidence level is at an all time high. I can’t wait to show the world once again who I am.”

The co-main event of the star studded card will be Taylor’s stablemate, another Lace Up Promotions fighter very familiar to Lockport fight fans, Kevin VanNostrand.

VanNostrand, who has fought and won almost a half dozen times in the Lock City, and Taylor are stablemates in Lace Up Promotions, headed up by Lockport native Amer Abdallah, now living in Las Vegas. Abdallah, the WKA Cruiserweight World Champion, has promoted dozens of fight cards in Lockport over the past 20 years and Nostrand has been one of the most notable, winning impressively and showing world class talent in every one of his Kenan Arena fights.

VanNostrand and others in Jim Andrello’s “Team Andrello” stable are regulars at Abdallah’s Lockport’s bi-annual fight cards at the Kenan Arena, earning a reputation in this community as among the most talented and best-trained fighters at each event.

“My job is to position my fighters and give them the greatest chance of success in their careers,” Abdallah said.

“Ability is very limited without opportunity and both Joe and Kevin have tremendous opportunities on Friday with GLORY. I’m blessed to manage two of the best kickboxers on the planet,” Abdallah said.

Abdallah’s impressive stable of fighters includes Mayweather Promotions 2-division world champion Badou Jack amongst many others.

“All of my fighters support each other. Badou called me from Sweden to wish Joe and Kevin luck and all of our eyes and hearts will be with them on July 20th,” Abdallah said.

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Lockport’s Tankersley earns her second straight ring victory on Saturday

By John D’Onofrio
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
Photo by Jay Stoos

Showcasing the all-around kickboxing skills needed to compete at a higher level, Lockport’s Joe Taylor manhandled Cortland’s Mike Diorio in atypical fashion on Saturday night in the main event of “HAVOC” fight card at the Kenan Arena.

Known as a knockout specialist because of his tremendous punching power, Taylor improved to 5-1 as a professional with a tremendous leg attack, knocking Diorio (3-2) from one end of the ring to the other with multiple boots to the head in their light heavyweight, three-round bout, and ultimately earned a unanimous-decision victory.

A left leg to the head dropped Diorio late in the first round and an uppercut felled the challenger in the second, but Taylor was in complete control throughout, showing excellent balance and a wide variety of blows that kept the crowd on its feet.

The judge’s score cards read 30-25, 30-25, 30-25 across the board, which was followed immediately by a special announcement from Taylor at ring center.

“July 20th. Madison Square Garden. Glory Kickboxing,” said Taylor, referring to his big upcoming fight this summer at “boxing’s mecca.” Taylor is the only Lockport boxer in history to win a pro fight at MSG, which he did last year.

Meanwhile, Team Andrello’s “Golden Boy,” Bryce Mills (22-1), just 16, thrilled the massive crowd yet again, showcasing his amazing athleticism and skill in another brilliant performance, while earning a unanimous-decision victory over Rochester’s tough Mike Schiffhauer (7-4-1)  in their five-round middleweight K-1 bout. The scores were 50-44, 50-44, 50-44. The bout was also the last for Schiffhauer’s trainer and cornerman, Jim Louthe, who announced his retirement after the fight.

Among other winners on the 11-bout fight card was Lockport’s little stick of TNT, Vahnessa Tankersley, who improved to 2-0 in the 100-pound amateur kickboxing class with her second straight technical knockout victory over Marcella Blythe (0-2) of Walkerton, Ontario, Canada, in their three-round fight. Tankersley also KO’d the same Canadian last November at the Kenan in her kickboxing debut.

“I’ve learned everything from Joe Taylor,” said Tankersley, a member of “Team Taylor.” “I love the gym I’m at. Joe Taylor and my dad work there. Joe’s been my coach for two years. They’re the best.”

Rounding out the list of Saturday night’s fight card winners were Rochester’s talented Yu Soe, Buffalo’s Brandon Mindoro, Team Andrello’s Damiana Andrello and Matt Bulger; and Buffalo’s Derek Green, Ali Rexhepi, Maxeron Dorn and the popular light heavyweight Javier Figueroa, who once again drew a large crowd of supporters to the Kenan.

Soe, just 20, won his debut, 130-pound fight over Buffalo’s Vince Capozzi (1-3). Mindoro (2-1), another Kenan crowd favorite, earned a unanimous-decision (29-27, 29-27, 30-26) victory over Buffalo’s Adrian Guadalupe (0-1).

In one of the best fights of the night, Syracuse’s Damiana Andrello retained her Lace-Up Promotions Women’s Lightweight championship belt with a unanimous-decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46) win over tough Jessica Ventura of Toronto in their entertaining and hard-fought, five-round, 120-pound battle.

Bulger improved to 7-0 as a middleweight with a five-round, unanimous-decision (49-46, 50-44, 50-44 victory over “Papa” Sean Felton of Buffalo to retain the Lace-Up Promotions Masters Middleweight title. Green (2-4) opened the show with a three-round, split decision win over Buffalo’s Justin Scifo in their 142-pound battle. In his debut fight, Rexhepi earned a TKO victory over Toronto’s Antolly Ryaboken (2-3). The fight was stopped at 1:25 of the second round.

Dorn improved to 2-3 with a 30-27, 30-27,30-27, unanimous-decision win over Rochester’s Khaung Sine (0-2) in their flurry-filled, three-round, 135-pound bout.

Drawing chants and loud cheers from the partisan crowd throughout, Buffalo’s Figuerora (2-1), gave another, spirited, relentless effort in beating Rochester’s tough Chris Tirk by split decision in their 195-pound bout. The scores were 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.

The ring announcer was Lars Lewis and ring physician was Edward Vargo. Alternating fight night referees were Bill Kiefer, Tom Jenkins and Mike Walter. Ring-side judges included Lockport’s Randy Butler.

Fight night sponsors included Mulvey Construction, Executive Landscaping, All Metal Works and Green Earth Construction.

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Check out this spotlight on Kevin VanNostrand from Glory Kickboxing.

Kevin VanNostrand wins title of Glory Interim Featherweight Champion

Localsyr.com

Syracuse can boast being the home of the only current American kickboxing world champion when Liverpool native Kevin VanNostrand captured the title of Glory Interim Featherweight Champion this past December. He had to beat long time fighter Anvar Boynazarov in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden crowd, but the Central New Yorker delivered a knock out with a vicious left knee to his opponent’s liver.

VanNostrand is born and raised in Central New York and began training at only seven years of age. He describes himself as a “striker” and likes to use all his being when it comes to being in the ring. His trainer has called him a “quiet killer” due to the fact that many of is opponents “never see it coming”. Training partner AJ Regulbuto has been with him every step of the way and characterizes VanNostrand as a determined, talented athlete and a great friend.

While kickboxing is VanNostrand’s passion, he also works full-time to support his family at TJ Sheehan’s beverage distribution. However, this means training at the wee hours of the morning and working with his employer to be able to attend big fights. VanNostrand is quick to thank TJ Sheehans for being so understanding of his schedule and allowing him the flexibility he needs to become a world champion.

VanNostrand is enjoying this win and training for whatever comes his way next, even though he has yet to find out when his next fight may be. He’ll be ready to defend his title and continue to make Syracuse proud.

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