The only question left unanswered in Amer Abdallah’s dream to fight for a world kickboxing championship is, “Where?”
Abdallah, Lockport’s popular professional fighter/trainer/promoter — the current undefeated World Kickboxing Association Inter-Continental light heavyweight champion now working in Las Vegas — recently got the telephone call he’s been dreaming about since he was a young child.
While vacationing with his family in Jordan recently, Abdallah said he received notification from World Kickboxing Association President Brian Crenshaw that the WKA headquarters in Europe has granted him a world title shot in the Cruiserweight Kickboxing Division.
“As soon as Mr. Crenshaw informed me of the decision that was made, I had to sit down and grasp what I was hearing,” Abdallah said.
The reigning and defending champion of several years, Gareth Richards, recently retired, vacating the title and prompting Abdallah and the No. 3 contender in the world to fight for the title.
A date of Nov. 21 has been set for the bout, but without a venue yet, as of today. Abdallah said possible venues include Western New York, Las Vegas and Jordan in the Middle East.
“We’re doing our best to secure this fight in front of my supporters and fans that have been with me throughout my career, but we have a lot of work ahead of us to make it happen,” Abdallah said.
Is Lockport a possibility?
“Nothing would fulfill this dream more, than to win the title at home,” Abdallah said.
Abdallah and his team have set a mid-September date to begin training for the biggest fight of his career and the first ever professional world title fight for a Western New York native. The training camp will be primarily based in Las Vegas, under the watchful eye of trainers Jeff Mayweather and Dewey Cooper at the Mayweather Boxing Club.
Team Abdallah trainers Corey Webster and Jim Andrello are flying to Las Vegas to join the training camp once it gets underway. The team plans to end camp in the destination of where the fight will be held at least two weeks prior to the bout.
“I’m extremely excited about about Amer finally getting a shot at the world title,” said Jeff Mayweather.
“This has been a long time coming and I’m proud to be a part of this moment in history and to be a part of it in Amer’s career as well. As of right now, we know that Nov. 21 is the date and we are going to set up camp based on that information.
“My preparation for this fight will be the most intense of my career and come fight night, I’ll be 100 percent ready for anyone.”
This article first appeared on LockportJournal.com, which you can view HERE