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Corey Webster, Brian Irr among other local winners Saturday night at raucous Lockport Kenan Arena.

By John D’Onofrio
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

LOCKPORT — Lockport’s Amer Abdallah ascended to the top of the national kickboxing world on Saturday night with a much-deserved, eight-round unanimous-decision win over Francois Ambang at the rocking, raucous Kenan Center Arena.

A raucous crowd estimated as high as 2,500 packed the Kenan to witness the World Kickboxing Association light heavyweight championship fight — the city’s first-ever professional title fight.

With legendary local fighters on hand that included “Baby Joe” Mesi, Tommy Hicks and Tony Ventura, Abdallah improved to 11-0 in his career with a close, hard-fought win over the equally-impressive Cameroon-native Ambang.

“He was by far the toughest opponent I’ve ever faced,” said Abdallah. “I’m a little banged up and a little sore, but the fight went exactly as we planned.”

‘He’s 10 years younger than me and he’s fought all over the world. He’s also got the highest knockout percentage in the division. Europe, Africa — he’s the real deal. There was never any trash talking between us before, during or after the fight. He’s a world class fighter and we just gave him a world class butt kicking in Lockport.”

After an inactive  first few rounds that had both fighters trying to figure out the other, Abdallaah opened things up in the middle rounds and started landing punches and his trademark powerful leg kicks in combinations.

“He was strong and durable, but when I started landing body shots, his hands started coming down in middle rounds,” Abdallah said.

“He hit me with a good punch in the second round. I could feel that he had a lot of power. I tried to beat him to the punch and keep him off-balance by constantly moving.”

The rounds were all close except for the fifth, in which Abdallah dominated thoroughly and came close to knocking Ambang out.

Abdallah, 32, said the WKA will mandate who the next No. 1 contender in the division will be and it’s likely he will fight that person sometime next spring. Ambang entered the ring Saturday as the No. 1 contender for the vacant crown and Abdallah was No. 2.

Meanwhile, local fighters Brian Irr and Corey Webster gave the partisan crowd plenty to cheer about with their impressive professional victories.

Irr, 23, posted a one-sided third round technical knockout win over Rochester’s Jarrett McBride. The lanky Newfane native Irr used his height to his advantage and dominated thoroughly.

A right hand felled McBride in the first round, then a spinning leg kick dropped McBride in the second and he was finally saved by the bell.

The third round was all Irr again, who pounded McBride into submission before the referee stopped the fight with 1:01 left in the third.

“I felt like I was control,” said Irr, who is a veteran of numerous national and international martial arts competitions.

“I think I was a lot more patient in this fight than I was in my first pro fight,” Irr said. “The last time, I let the guy bull rush me. This time, I made sure to keep my distance.”

Irr (2-0) said his future plans are up in the air. “We’ll see. I’m just going to take things one day at a time,” Irr added.

Webster made a successful transition from amateur to pro with his second-round technical knockout win over Majhid Reassi (2-2) of Ontario, Canada.

Webster was a tank, compact, aggressive and powerful, throughout, scoring a standing eight count on Reassi in the first round, then finishing him off with rights and lefts to the head in the second.

The fight was stopped at 2:55 of the second.

“I’m so proud of Brian and Corey. They’re the next generation of Lace Up Promotion and Lockport prize fighters,” Abdallah said.

“Corey took care of a kid who was a seasoned professional. Keep an eye on him.  I think he’s going to be Lockport’s next shining star.

“In his second pro fight, Brian fought a kid with 10 professional fights. He showed huge improvement from his first fight and I think a lot of that had to do with the excellent coaching he gets from Eric Hill.”

In other fights involving local fighters, Lockport’s Oliver Kimmons (1-3) lost to Tonawanda’s Eric Herbert (3-1) in a professional heavyweight kickboxing match. Herbert landed a good right hand and the referee stopped the fight at 2:52 of the first round.

Anthony Winfrey of Cleveland scored a second round technical knockout win over Lockport’s Kyle Gibas in a heavyweight bout.

Two lefts by Winfrey forced a standing eight count in the first. A right hand knocked Gibas down again, then in the second, a Winfrey flurry forced another eight count, before the referee stopped the fight with 1:18 to go in the second.

Buffalo’s Jay Bauman scored an impressive third round TKO win over Dillon Clark of Ontario in their middleweight bout.

Rounding out the 10-fight card, featherwight Miguel Desus of Cleveland earned a decision win over  Armand Mushkelani of Ontario, Liverpool’s Leith Ashkar earned a majority decision win over Macho Garcia of Cleveland in their lightweight amateur bout, super middleweight Josh Fitzsimmons earned a second round TKO win over Sean Connor of Dunkirk and in one of the best bouts of the night, light heavyweight amateurs James Strawder of Dunkirk and Brandon Hunter of Ontario battled to a deserving draw.

NOTES: The ring announcer was Lockport’s mild-mannered Miles Patterson. Many thanks to Lizz Bouchard and Gina Nowak … Dressed to the hilt were smiling ring ladies Nadine Jones, Nicole Carcione and Marissa Carcione … Taping the event for rebroadcast was Lockport Community Television with ring announcers Jim Slowey, the vampire Danny Sheehan, Bo Bilicki and former professional boxing light heavyweight contender Tommy “The Fighting School Teacher” Hicks of Newfane.

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Labeled as the underdog for the first time in his life, the Lockport CEO and kickboxing promoter, Amer Abdallah, will realize the dream of his lifetime and face his greatest challenge at “Finally”, the next WKA (USA) U.S. Champion title event to be held at Lockport, NY’s Kenan Center Arena.

Amer Abdallah may be considered the underdog, but he says he is ready for “Finally”, the upcoming World Kickboxing Association’s U.S. Champion title event to be held in Lockport on Saturday, November 12, 2011 “Without a doubt this will be my biggest challenge to date. But that’s what I train for” said Abdallah, whose comeback to the ring has included four straight knockout victories in the last three years. But, due to Ambang’s youth, recent victorious streak, and international experience, Ambang will be considered the favorite.

Ambang, a native of Cameroon, Africa came to the U.S. in 2009 and immediately began attracting national attention. A former African champion and K-1 veteran, the 26 year old Ambang is touted to be among the most explosive and powerful athletes competing today. He has climbed to #1 ranking, and he holds one of the highest KO ratios in the industry. Still, Abdallah, who had an impressive win in the heavyweight division, doesn’t seem concerned about the reputation of his opponent. “No one can tell me who or what I am or can be, they can’t measure my heart,” says Abdallah. “Belief in myself will change my world. Defeat and surrender are not in my vocabulary. I don’t understand those words” Abdallah commented on not being the favorite for the U.S. title event.

The “Finally” Championship title event will be held at the Kenan Center Arena on Saturday November 12th, with the opening bell at 7pm. The star-studded evening includes the professional Kickboxing debut of Corey “The Story” Webster. Webster is coming off of a streak of knockout victories in Syracuse, Lockport and at the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Webster, a local crowd favorite and exciting middleweight, is expected to sign a promotional agreement with Abdallah’s company, Lace Up Promotions. “We are proud to bring Corey into our Lace Up family and begin managing his career and quest for some big titles,” Lace Up Promotion’s Vice President, Lizz Bouchard, stated.

In addition to Abdallah, Ambang and Webster, the “Finally” line-up includes Brian Irr, of Newfane, NY, who is returning to the ring and plans to continue his winning streak. Irr trains at the Seishin Kan Karate program at the Lockport Athletic & Fitness club under Coach Eric Hill, and was impressive in his kickboxing debut last May. MMA women’s champion, Alexis Davis, fresh off her win on a recent Strikeforce show, will defend her Women’s lightweight title. “This championship event is made possible thanks to sponsors like Jeff Folckemer and LocalEdge, Tim Mulvey and Mulvey Construction, Scott Cain and Cain, Witlin, & Dry, Angelo Natale and Natale Builders – and all of our great local support,” Bouchard added. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster http://www.ticketmaster.com/Finally-tickets/artist/1646164 and at the Lockport Athletic & Fitness Club, 6017 S. Transit Road, Lockport, NY.

Abdallah is CEO of kickboxing promotion company, Lace Up Promotions, and the Lockport Athletic & Fitness Club, a premier fitness club located in Lockport, NY, where many athletes train. The Western New York based Lace Up Promotions has featured many local athletes that have made it to the big stage including Sam Stout, Mark Hominick, Chris Hordecki, Jim Andrello, Ty Hafner, Kim Andrello & Ed Burris and now, Corey Webster. “We are so proud to have given these fighters the opportunities to build their careers and having had them on our shows,” says Abdallah with a passion for growing the sport that is apparent. Abdallah has been in the martial arts since the age of 8 and says he’s living his dream through his promotions company. “I love the martial arts, love the people I’ve met over the past years, and love watching young local athletes turn into champions,” he says.

Lace Up Promotions has been hosting kickboxing, boxing and Muay Thai events around the upstate New York area since 1998 and has opened markets in Syracuse, Rochester and Connecticut. They are currently hosting events in Texas and New Jersey. “It’s been such a blessing to have an opportunity to do what I love and be a part of so many communities. In each town we promote these events we feel right at home,” says Abdallah.

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Baby Joe Mesi and Team Abdallah are supporting Corey Webster.

By John D’Onofrio
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

TOWN OF LOCKPORT — Local popular middleweight kickboxer Corey Webster has capped off his brilliant amateur career in boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts Wednesday by signing with Lace Up Promotions.

“Corey is the guy everyone wants to cheer for. He’s very respectful, family-oriented, genuinely kind and can fight well,” said Lace Up CEO Amer Abdallah. “I absolutely love this kid.”

Abdallah will fight for a national light heavyweight championship on Nov. 12 at the Kenan Center Arena against Francois Ambang of Camaroon, Africa. The fight is sanctioned by the World Kickboxing Association USA.

Also on the fight card are other local favorites, including Webster, who will be making his pro debut, and Newfane’s Brian Irr.

Among those on hand to welcome Webster into the Lace Up stable were Abdallah, Lace-Up vice president Lizz Bouchard, strength and conditioning coach Gina Nowak; and making a special apperance, retired undefeated professional heavyweight boxer Baby Joe Mesi, along with a date, his 18-month-old daughter, Juliet.

“I’m here to show support for both Amer and Corey. They’re great fighters and they bring a great sport to Lockport and Western New York,” Mesi said.

“Corey reminds me a lot of myself when I was boxing,” said the world’s former number one-ranked professional heavyweight boxing contender. “He’s not afraid to get hurt. He’s not afraid to lose or go down. He has a tremendous work ethic as well.”

Webster earned a national silver medal in the Ringside boxing tournament and competed in over 15 other boxing matches. His kickboxing career flourished as he became dubbed the “Canadian Killer” after knocking out his past five Canadian opponents as he’s developed a huge following in supporters and fans along the way.

Webster joined Abdallah’s downtown gym in the late 1990’s and developed himself into one of the most diligent and hardest workers in the gym.

“We’d call him a gym rat. He’d be the first in and the last out. His work ethic is unparalleled,” Abdallah said.

Making the transition to the pro ranks is something Corey has been anticipating and debating with Lace Up promotions for quite some time.

“We wanted to give him some tough tests late in his amateur career and see how he handled himself. Without a doubt, he passed with flying colors. We are excited to manage and promote Corey to a prosperous and victorious professional career,” said Lace Up vice president Lizz Bouchard.

“Corey has been with us since his amateur days and we are looking forward to carrying that over to the professional ranks. More than being an athlete of ours, he is part of our family.”

Heading up Webster’s strength and conditioning is Lace Up’s head trainer Gina Nowak. Currently in camp with Abdallah, Nowak welcomes the opportunity to work with Corey and develop his speed, agility and strength.

Tickets for the event will be available at the Lockport Athletic & Fitness club beginning Saturday or at Ticketmaster.com.

Also on the card, Alexis Davis will defend her women’s lightweight title.

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Will Fight Francois Ambang on Nov. 12 at Kenan Center Arena

By John D’Onofrio
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

LOCKPORT — Lockport’s Amer Abdallah will fulfill his kickboxing dream when he fights for a national light heavyweight championship on Nov. 12 in the Lock City.

The World Kickboxing Association USA announced this week that Abdallah will face Francois Ambang of Camaroon, Africa, at the Kenan Center Arena.

Tickets will be available beginning Oct. 3 at the Lockport Athletic & Fitness Center on South Transit Road in the Town of Lockport, and through Ticketmaster.

At stake is the vacant WKA USA light heavyweight full contact belt.

“Without a doubt, this is my biggest challenge to date, but that’s what I train for,” said Abdallah, whose comeback to the ring has included four straight knockout victories over the last three years.

For the first time in his career, Abdallah has been labeled the underdog. Sited are Ambang’s youth (26), international experience and recent winning streak.

Ambang (20-2) has never been stopped in his career and has one of the highest KO ratios in the sport today.

A native of Cameroon in west Central Africa, Ambang first came to the United States in 2009.

The former African champion and K-1 veteran is  the No. 1-ranked contender for the title and touted to be among the most explosive and powerful athletes in the sport of kickboxing today.

So far, the undefeated Abdallah, a former state light heavyweight champ, doesn’t seem intimidated.

“No one can tell me who or what I am or can be,” Abdallah said.

“They can’t measure my heart. Belief in myself will change my world. Defeat and surrender or not in my vocabulary. I don’t understand those words.”

Also on the Nov. 12 fight card are other local favorites, including Lockport middleweight fighter and mixed martial arts instructor Corey Webster, along with Newfane’s Brian Irr, who returns to the ring less than six months after opening his professional career with a knockout victory.

Also on the card, Alexis Davis will defend her women’s lightweight title.

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Lockport’s Abdallah, Irr Among Fight Night Winners at Kenan Arena

By John D’Onofrio

LOCKPORT — It took just 239 seconds for Lockport’s Amer Abdallah to prove how “over-rated” he is.

Looking as sharp, precise and powerful as he’s ever been, Abdallah humbled Milwaukee’s Jerald Johnson, knocking him out about a minute into the second round of their professional heavyweight kickboxing fight at the raucous Kenan Center Arena.

A record crowd estimated in the thousands witnessed Saturday night’s 14-bout international card, sponsored by Local Edge Media, Mulvey Construction, Patterson Contracting, Finnan’s, All Metal Works , Wittlin, Cain & Dry Accounting, Natale Builders and Papa Leo’s.

Earlier victories by Lockport’s Brian Irr and Eric Pulmeri helped set a positive local tone for the scheduled, seven-round main event. The fight ended much sooner than anticipated by most, especially after the 6-4, 215-pound Johnson boasted at Friday night’s weigh-in how over-rated the 6-0, 191-pound Abdallah was.

Overcoming the significant size differential and despite nursing tender ribs that forced him to postpone an earlier fight, Abdallah (10-0) completely obliterated Johnson (19-5) from the start, landing several thunderous leg kicks to Johnson’s ribs that resulted in a standing eight count from referee Angelo Castricone.

The end came soon after that as Abdallah drilled Johnson with three consecutive left legs to the ribs and a right hand that knocked him senseless to the floor. But the bell rang to end the first round and Johnson limped to his corner, complaining to his trainer, Stan Johnson, about sore ribs.

Another powerful leg kick by Abdallah hurt Johnson to open the second round, but the larger man threw a nice right hand that momentarily kept Abdallah away. The inevitable came just 59 seconds into round two as Abdallah backed Johnson into the corner then pummeled him with a right hand and left leg kick to the head until he dropped over the ropes. Castricone stepped in after that to officially end the onslaught.

“We did not disclose to anyone outside of our camp that two weeks into training, I broke two ribs and we were considering pulling out of this fight, but we decided to try and work through it. Several different doctors worked me over and I was able to endure camp. I sparred just 20 rounds the whole camp,” Abdallah said.

“I was a little concerned because I was stepping up into the heavyweight division and he’s so big, but as it turned out, the body wasn’t what he was looking for. He was headhunting,” Abdallah said.

“I’m a little disappointed that he wasn’t more durable. I knew after I kicked him the first time and I heard him make a noise that he wasn’t going to last. That’s when I made the decision to go for the kill. When I came back to my corner at the end of the first round, I said to (trainer) Corey (Webster), ‘Pick a corner you want him to fall in.’”

Despite the impressive win as a heavyweight, Abdallah said he will return to the light heavyweight class for his next fight, which is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 12 or 19 at the Kenan Arena. Also expected on that card are Lockport’s Webster, Pulmeri and Irr.

“I’m definitely moving back down. My place is in the light heavyweight division, where I’ve earned the opportunity to fight a top-five guy. That’s still my goal. I’ve trained too hard and for too long to be fighting guys who have no heart. If he’s not in the top five, it’s not worth it to me.”

Pulmeri dominated Rochester’s Mike Olds in their three-round bout that drew blood. Pulmeri was the aggressor throughout, pinning Olds on the ropes and wailing away. After a close first and second round, Pulmeri landed the more significant blows in the decisive third.

Irr, who trains at Lockport’s Seishin-Kan Karate School under the direction of Eric Hill, made his three-round pro kickboxing debut a memorable one, dominating wrestle-happy Michael Sherwood of Port Colbourne, Ontario. The taller Irr won the first, but Sherwood kept clenching and made it difficult for the Lockport martial arts champion to find his range. That came in the second and third rounds, which Irr dominated with strong leg kicks and punches to the head.

“He drained a lot out of me by clenching all the time,” Irr said. “But eventually I started landing leg kicks and I was able to try a few things that worked well for me. I learned a lot and it was a great experience in front of the home crowd.”

Added Abdallah, “Brian’s one of the best up-and-coming athletes in our area and we were proud to have him on our fight card. Eric’s a class act and he runs a great organization.”

Other fight night winners included Sean Conner of Jamestown, Eric Osbourne of Toronto, Richard Oelke of Hamilton), Tom Welker of Buffalo, Luay Ashkar of Liverpool, Mike Shiffhauer of Rochester, Yman Bannister of Jamestown, Josh Fitzimmons of Hamilton, Jeremy Savoy of Toronto and “Fighter of the Night” award winner Damiana Andrello of Liverpool.

Andrello, 11, the daughter of Lace Up Promotions fighters Jim and Kim Andrello, was a crowd favorite in her impressive decision-win over Emily Easterbrook of Port Colbourne.

Conner decisioned Jessie Bilhinghurst of Buffalo, Osbourne and Oelke earned split-decision wins, respectively, over Joe Goyette of Jamestown and Louie Loresco of Toronto. Welker earned a technical knockout win over Lockport’s Brock Menzel, Ashkar decisioned Walter Ramirez of Toronto, Shiffhauer decisioned Ariel Class of Buffalo, Bannister beat Fredrico Diagamisso of Hamilton by TKO, Fitzimmons decisioned. Harold Lindor of Toronto and Savoy decisioned one of the night’s most popular fighters, Joe Pagan of Fredonia.

It was the first career loss for Pagan, the principal at Fredonia BOCES, and veteran kickboxing referee, who was supported by a large contingent of family members and friends. Pagan, whom Abdallah said is one of the most respected fight men in the business, broke a toe and was given an opportunity to back out of the fight at the last minute, but declined.

“Joe has a huge heart. You have to tip your hat to him. And he fought a tough kid.”

Among those assisting on fight night were members of Team Abdallah, including Gina Nowak, Liz Bouchard, Paul Webster and the Ventura brothers, Anthony and Chris, the sons of former professional heavyweight contender Tony Ventura of Lockport The ring announcer was Lockport High School boys and girls varsity track head coach Miles Patterson. Among the dignataries on hand were Lockport Mayor Tucker, former heavyweight contenders Ventura and “Baby” Joe Mesi, Niagara Falls pro fighter Nick Casal and his father, Lockport native and Falls gym owner Ray Casal, ringside physician Dr. Margaret Libby, ironman competitor Sam Pasceri and several local businessmen, including Tom Sarratori (Finnan’s) and Mike Ennis (Danny Sheehan’s).

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