Latest News

Click here to see the original article

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.

Click here to see the original article

Lockport’s Amer Abdallah Predicts a Knockout Win Saturday Night

By John D’Onofrio

LOCKPORT — It’s a true David versus Goliath on Saturday night at the historic Kenan Center Arena, only this “David” is much more confident than the man in the Biblical parable.

Lockport professional kickboxer Amer Abdallah, a formidable light heavyweight at 6-feet, 185 pounds, will move up a class to take on 6-feet, 4-inch, 220-pound heavyweight Jerald “The Gettoblaster” Johnson (19-4) of Milwaukee in Saturday night’s main event.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first of 13 scheduled fights to begin at 7 p.m.

Abdallah (9-0), who started training camp at 190 pounds, said he’s feeling physically and mentally fit for his fight.

“We knew that when we took this fight that we’d be spotting him 30 to 40 pounds, so we didn’t want to simply put on more weight,” Abdallah said on Wednesday.

“It wasn’t going to matter. We were fighting a bigger, taller guy, period. I’m feeling great. We’re peaking this weak. My heart rate and body weight percentages are exactly where they’re supposed to be. I’m feeling strong.”

Two weeks ago, light heavyweight Tree Scott (11-0) of Florida withdrew from his scheduled title about against Abdallah. Lace Up Promotions then signed the veteran Johnson, who won his last fight in February by a third-round knockout.

“He has size and experience and he trains with Dick Roufus, one of the most famous kickboxers in the United States,” Abdallah said.

“He’s able to bully a lot of guys he fights because of his size, experience and boxing skills,” Abdallah said.

“I won’t give him an opportunity to do that. I’m going to stand in front him and show him a lot of things he’s never seen from a smaller guy. Our job is to kill the body and the head will fall. I won’t take any chances that  might end getting me countered. We’ll fight a smart fight and a fast fight.”

When asked for his prediction on the fight, Abdallah was equally confident.

“Someone will be getting knocked out and it won’t be me — that’s my two guarantees,” Abdallah said. “I don’t want to give him the idea that I’m going to run from him. He has to be prepared to die in that ring just as I am. This is sheer warfare. I’m going to walk him down and slay Goliath,” Abdallah said.

Abdallah’s team made some drastic changes in camp, bringing in taller sparring partners in the final week of preparation.

“We’ve been working on many of the same tools Amer will use for Johnson. It’s minor adjustments that we’re focusing on. We’re going to blast the Ghettoblaster,” said Abdallah trainer Corey Webster.

Abdallah said he’ll return to the light heavyweight class following the fight.

“My goal is to win. This is a fight for the fans and for people who want to see an exciting fight. This one’s just for fun.”

Weigh-ins for the event will be open to the public at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Finnan’s Bar & Grill on Lincoln Avenue.

Also on the card is the past winner of several martial arts titles, Newfane’s Brian Irr, who will make his pro kickboxing debut against Canadian Michael Sherwood.

Local Edge CEO Jeff Folckemer has announced that the first 500 spectators to walk through the doors on Saturday will be entered to win their choice of either a $1,000 college scholarship or a free IPAD. Folckemer, a major supporter of Team Abdallah, bought all spectators free pizza at the last fight event in July.

Click here to see the original article

Abdallah Takes on ‘Gettoblaster’ on Saturday Night in Heavyweight Kickboxing Contest at the Kenan Arena

LOCKPORT — In the ever spontaneous world of combat sports unforeseen and wild events tend to happen from time to time.

Saturday’s professional fight card at the Kenan Center Arena is no exception.

With under a week to go in the mega bout between Lockport’s Amer Abdallah and Florida’s Trei Scott (11-0), the Scott camp has confirmed their withdrawal from the fight on Saturday for no specific reason.

“As unsettling and unprofessional as this situation is, we’ve had to move on and focus on another opponent,” matchmaker Andre Hahn of Lace Up Promotions stated.  “We will revisit all of the legal implications after May 14th”  With other names in the light heavyweight mix, Amer Abdallah took it a step further.

“I wanted a good, tough fight to give my Western New York fans,” said Abdallah (9-0).

“I spoke with (trainer) Corey (Webster) and made a decision to step up to the next weight class and take on the big boys.”

Lace Up Promotions has signed 6-feet, 4-inch, 215-pound Jerald “The Gettoblaster” Johnson of Milwaukee Wisconsin as Abdallah’s challenge in Saturday night’s main event.

Johnson (19-4) just won a fight in February by stopping his opponent in the third round. He took the Abdallah fight with open arms and no hesitation.

“We knew he would take it due to our size and experience difference,” Abdallah stated.

Team Abdallah manager Lizz Bouchard, advisor  “Baby” Joe Mesi and strength and conditioning coach Gina Nowak became aware of Abdallah’s decision just days ago on a live segment of Sports Magazine with Jim Slowey.

“Unfortunately, these things happen in boxing” Mesi said.  “Amer is stepping it up and is going to give the fans a heck of a show on Saturday.”

Bouchard said, “It took us all by surprise and I was hesitant at first, but I believe in Amer and his skills. He wants this fight and regardless of anyone’s thoughts, he’ll do what he wants anyway. Our job is to support him.”

Abdallah’s team has already made some drastic changes in camp as they’ve brought in taller sparring partners in the final week of preparation.

“We’ve been working on many of the same tools Amer will use for Johnson. It’s minor adjustments that we’re focusing on. We’re going to blast the ‘Ghettoblaster,’” Webster said.

Former trainer Juan Deleon recently flew into Buffalo from Puerto Rico, where he’s preparing undefeated welterweight Felix Mercedes (11-0) for an upcoming fight. Deleon spent time in the Abdallah camp assisting Webster in fine tuning the game plan for a taller, bigger and more experienced opponent.

In a surprising move, Abdallah has requested a smaller ring to fight in.

“I don’t want to give him the idea that I’m going to run from him. He has to be prepared to die in that ring just as I am. This is sheer warfare. I’m going to walk him down and slay Goliath,” Abdallah said.

Weigh-ins for the event will be open to the public and conducted at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Finnan’s Bar & Grill on Lincoln Avenue.

Also added to the card is former Muay Thai middleweight “Smokin” Joe Pagan, who will be fighting Canadian superstar Jeremy Savoy in a middleweight title fight. Pagan, a principal at the BOCES LoGuidice Center in Fredonia, is stepping out of his role as a school administrator, father and husband to claim his coveted title.

Newfane’s Brian Irr will take on tough Canadian Michael Sherwood of Dayboll’s Jui Jitsu.  Irr, who has captured several martial arts titles, is making the transition to full contact kickboxing.

Local Edge CEO Jeff Folckemer has announced that the first 500 spectators to walk through the doors on Saturday will be entered to win their choice of either a $1,000 college scholarship or a free IPAD. Folckemer, a major supporter of Team Abdallah, bought all spectators free pizza at the last fight event in July.

Click here to see the original article

Lockport’s Brian Irr Makes his Amateur Kickboxing Debut May 14 at the Kenan Arena.

By John D’Onofrio

LOCKPORT — With several junior championships under his belt in the sport of karate, Lockport’s Brian Irr is no ordinary amateur.

Irr, one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of Lockport’s Seishin Kan Karate School on Pine Street, will make his amateur kickboxing debut on May 14 at the historic Kenan Center Arena.

Lockport fight fans eager for a look at one of this city’s most promising young fighters will get their chance when Irr, 23, steps into the ring as part of the fight night undercard. In the main event, Lockport’s undefeated professional kickboxing champion Amer Abdallah (9-0) will take on fellow light-heavyweight unbeaten “Terrible” Trei  Scott (11-0) of Fort Lauderdale Fla.

Irr’s veteran trainer, Seishin Kan owner Eric Hill, said his fighter had been mulling a run at kickboxing for a long time.

“Abdallah approached us last fall about it. After wrapping up last year’s karate season, we thought we’d give it a shot this spring,” said Hill, a Gasport native and a 1993 graduate of Royalton-Hartland High School.

“Brian has a very unique fighting style. He’s real tall (6-feet, 3-inches) and lean, and he can be really evasive. His movement in the ring is his best asset. He went 10 straight rounds Friday night with Amer and couple of other local guys and he’s looking great.”

Irr  will fight at 175 pounds. The list of his potential opponents next month has been narrowed down to two.

No matter who he fights in three weeks, the lanky Irr said he’ll try to use his height to his advantage.

“I’ll use some of the techniques from my karate background. I’ll use my long reach  and try to stay on the outside, rather than fight inside. I’m most confident fighting like that,” said Irr, a four time national karate champion at Seishin Kan.

“The biggest difference between karate and boxing-kickboxing is that in karate, when a punch is landed and a point is scored, the match stops and the players reset. In boxing and kickboxing, you keep going. That’s the biggest obstacle I have to overcome.”

Irr competed in karate at Seishin Kan since he was five years old, along with his brother Adam Irr, now at RIT studying computer science and running track and cross country.

Besides his national championships, Brian Irr has earned a silver medal in the Pan American Games in Uruguay, a bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Ecuador and finished fourth in the world championships in Cyprus.

“I just wanted to try something new,” Irr said of his decision to become a kickboxer.

“Right now, I’m just getting a feel for it. I’ll take it for as long as we can and as long as I still like what I’m doing.”

Abdallah said he’s excited about getting Irr on the May 14 fight card.

“It’s great to be able to give someone like Adam this opportunity to showcase his talents and skills in front of the hometown crowd,” Abdallah said.

“He’s so well accomplished in martial arts. I’ve been eagerly anticipating his debut.”

Click here to see the original article

Lockport’s Amer Abdallah Takes on Fort Lauderdale’s Trei Scott on May 14th at the Kenan Center Arena

LOCKPORT — In one of the most important fights of his professional kickboxing career, Lockport’s Amer Abdallah will face a stiff challenge May 14 when he takes on fellow light-heavyweight unbeaten “Terrible” Trei  Scott of Fort Lauderdale Fla. at the historic Kenan Center Arena.

Sponsored by Local Edge Media, the main event of the most card features Abdallah (9-0), the current No. 1-ranked light heavyweight on the East Coast against Scott (11-0), who trains out of the American Top Team Gym, which has produced countless mixed martial arts world champions.

It’s a much-anticipated return to the ring for Abdallah, who hopes to fight for a major title soon.

“I’m not sure how many fights I have left, but I want to go out big,” Abdallah said.

“I covet that world title and want to bring it to Lockport.”

Abdallah’s previous three outings have resulted in knockout wins and catapulted him in the World Kickboxing rankings.

“I feel great at this stage of my career and am looking for a big win to place me in the top 10 in the world. “This fight will be the one,” said Abdallah, who trains at the Lockport Athletic and Fitness Club that he owns on South Transit Road in the Town of Lockport.

A previous student of Abdallah’s for several years and a silver medalist in the U.S. National Boxing Championships, Lockport’s Corey Webster is Abdallah’s head coach.

“We’ve adding the best kickboxing coach in Western New York, Corey Webster,” Abdallah said.

“Corey has trained under some of the top trainers in the world. He’s taken the best from everyone and added it to his already-dominant style. He’s perfect for me. It’s an honor to have Corey as a part of my team once again and now as my trainer.”

Webster said he was honored and confident in his new role.

“I believe Amer and I are a great match and are ready to take it to the next level and represent Lockport in the only we know how — victory,” Webster said.

Also debuting on the May 14 Kenan card is Lockport martial arts phenom Adam Irr.  Irr, who has won countless international martial arts tournaments, trains downtown Seishin-Kan Karate School under veteran coach Eric Hill.

“It’s great to be able to give someone like Adam this opportunity to showcase his talents and skills in front of the hometown crowd,” Abdallah said.

“He’s so well accomplished in martial arts. I’ve been eagerly anticipating his debut.”

Expected in attendance is four-time world kickboxing champion Rick “The Jet” Roufus, Abdallah’s longtime friend, Buffalo’s “Baby” Joe Mesi and Local Edge Media CEO Jeff Folckemer of Gasport, a major supporter of Abdallah’s for the past several years.

“I just love watching Amer fight. It’s always an exciting show and he sure knows how to end fights,” Mesi said.

“Mark my words, he will be world champion soon.”