Those Who Wanted to Fight Did Battle. Those Who Did Not Simply Stayed Home.
By John D’Onofrio
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
Lockport’s Ali Kimmons, Tyler Rodier, Joe Taylor and Pat Thompson posted impressive mixed martial arts victories Saturday night on a Lock City amateur fight card tempered by the last-minute cancellation of the scheduled World Kickboxing Association light heavyweight championship fight between Lockport native Amer Abdallah and world champion Gareth Richards of South Wales.
The international fight card — a dozen fights in all — went on as planned before another massive crowd at the Kenan Arena, but the news of Richards’ no-show cascaded throughout the city and Facebook earlier in the day, putting a damper on an otherwise outstanding event.
Abdallah said on Sunday that he spoke directly with WKA president Brian Crenshaw on the matter. The good news is Abdallah will garner an immediate title shot — a tentative date of Saturday, May 14 has already been set — against an opponent to be named by the WKA.
“Brian said he’ll make an official decision shortly,” Abdallah said. “What will probably happen is Gareth will get suspended, but you don’t inherit the WKA world title. If I want the title, I’ll still have to fight for it.”
The undefeated Abdallah (16-0), now 39, said the slight was “devastating,” following a grueling training camp in both Las Vegas and Western New York, but added he’ll remain positive.
“Honestly, this training camp was probably the hardest of my career and I wasn’t expecting to turn around and start camp again in two months, but that’s what world champions do,” said Abdallah, the current WKA United States Light Heavyweight Champion and WKA Intercontinental Champion.
“Life doesn’t come with a remote. Sometimes, you have to change it yourself,” Abdallah said. “We have to stay positive. Everyone has been awesome and supportive and behind us.”
Taylor dominated fellow-heavyweight Doug Holland of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, in Saturday night’s five-round main event. The judge’s scorecards across the board read 50 to 45.
Lockport’s “Son of a Legend” Taylor landed a wicked uppercut in the first round that set the tone for his unanimous-decision victory, but Holland was tough and weathered the storm, despite being out-matched throughout.
“Joe’s our superstar amateur — a tremendous heart and a tremendous man,” Abdallah said.
“The kids in the community look up to him and the adults do too. He’s just a great ambassador for our sport — a great representative of what martial arts can be.”
Thompson, known as “The Real Deal,” never looked better, returning to the ring impressively after a two-year absence, knocking out Rochester’s Ryan Nesbitt just 1:58 into the first round. A barrage of punches and kicks set up a solid right hook that sent Nesbitt to the canvass for good.
Thompson improved to 7-1 as a kickboxer and is 9-1 as a boxer.
“The real deal is back!” Abdallah said of his former sparring partner. “Pat said to me after the fight, ‘It’s good to be back.’ He’s a very smart fighter and a very durable fighter.”
Kimmons brought the house down with an inspirational knockout win over Rochester’s Chuck Jewell in their scheduled three-round heavyweight re-match.
Jewell TKO’d Kimmons in their first meeting, but the rematch on Saturday was a lot different with Kimmons landing a right hook that ended the fight just 59 seconds into the first round.
“The same thing’s going to happen to the next guy who steps into the ring with me,” said an emotional Kimmons after the fight. “I worked my butt off and trained with the right guys. The difference this time was I had more confidence.”
Rodier posted a split decision win over Buffalo’s Tyler Mesi, the nephew of former heavyweight contender “Baby Joe” Mesi. The judge’s cards were 29-28, 28-29, 30-27.
Mesi dominated early, but Rodier stayed the course, used his reach to his advantage, stayed patient and slowly wore down his opponent.
“I feel great!” Rodier said after the fight, while surrounded by family and friends. “I started three-and-a-half years ago and just kept pushing hard. People kept telling me to believe in myself. ‘Just believe in yourself,’ they kept telling me. I’ve had great trainers and they gave me great advice. I came out expecting him to be strong, and he was, but I stayed outside of him and then I caught him with a couple of good shots.”
Abdallah said Rodier has already come a long way in his young career.
“There’s just so much Tyler has faced in his life both in and out of the ring and I’m so proud to see him as the true champion he is now,” Abdallah said.
The Buffalo father-son combo of Sean Felton and Sean Felton Sr. both scored ring victories. Pops, 46 years young, earned a unanimous-decision win over Ian Niblett of Whitby, Ontario. The scores were 30-27 across the board.
His son earned a second-round knockout win over Lockport’s Mike Moyer. A leg kick to the head ended an otherwise close fight just 25 seconds into the second round.
Buffalo’s impressive Ayanna Tramont KO’d Vanessa Paniccia of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, in the night’s only female bout. The time was 1:58 into the first round.
Other winners on the card were Buffalo’s Scott Skinner and Scott Renfro; and Michael Veith and Richie Ridgeway of Liverpool, N.Y.
Photo Above:
Lockport’s Pat Thompson, right, delivers a solid right hook to the jaw of his opponent, Rochester’s Ryan Nesbitt during their heavyweight bout Saturday night at the Kenan Center Arena. Thompson won with this knockout punch just 1:07 into the first round. Other fight night winners included fellow Lockportians Ali Kimmons, Tyler Rodier and fan favorite Joe Taylor.
