By John D’Onofrio
TOWN OF LOCKPORT — The months of training and war of words is over.
Tonight, Lockport’s Amer Abdallah, 31, and Cleveland’s Jesse Colon, 28, will find out who walks the walk at “Back with a Vengeance— pro kickboxing fight card at the Kenan Center Arena. The five-round main event headlines the city’s first pro fight card in almost four years.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first fight expected to start at 7 p.m.
Abdallah appeared lean and mean when he stepped on the scale at 180 pounds at Friday’s official weigh-in and press conference at the Lockport Athletic & Fitness Center on South Transit Road. A reflection of the seriousness of this fight and his long-awaited comeback were evident as he sat quietly throughout the press conference.
One of the two fight night referees, Lockport’s Rob D’Angelo, documented the weights for ring announcer Miles Patterson of Lockport, who served as Master of Ceremonies at the final pre-fight event, which was attended by almost 100 fans and members of the media.
Among those in attendance were Lockport Community Television veteran sports broadcaster Jim Slowey, Hall of Fame boxing memorabilia collector and expert Bo Bilicki of Gasport, former professional heavyweight contender Tony Ventura, several members of Team Abdallah, including trainer Andrew Heron, Abdallah’s wife and head of management Lizz Bouchard, Abdallah’s strength and conditioning coach Gina Nowak; and Lockport photographer Steve Wallace.
“Once again, people get to see good quality kickboxing and a great kickboxer in Amer,” Heron said.
Ring physician Dr. Margaret Libby examined all fight night participants attending. She will be joined at ringside tonight by Wallace, an award-winning EMT.
Colone, who said this is his first trip to Western New York, said he has always heard positive things about Lockport and Western New York and its support of boxing, kickboxing and martial arts. Colone (13-2 as a pro), who will give up several inches to Abdallah in height, weighed in officially at 182 pounds.
“I started boxing when I was 15. I liked the sport a lot. My idol when I was younger was Oscar De La Hoya,” Colone said, surrounded by his team of boxers and trainers who accompanied him from Cleveland.
He described his fight style as “aggressive,” and while he had never seen the mobile, hard-hitting Abdallah fight before, his trainer, Mahendra Rambarran has, when Abdallah (6-0 as a pro) defeated another of his fighters, Josh Rodrigez, in 2003.
“Amer is a good guy and a good fighter,” Rambarran said.
Eight additional fighters who will precede the Abdallah/Colone main event were on hand Friday for their weigh-ins as well, including Lockport’s Corey Webster, a respected fighter and Western New York martial arts instructor who is living out his dream to train other fighters.
Webster, who has not fought since 2004, weighed in at 162 pounds, while his opponent, Jessie Ronson of Canada, weighed in at 163 pounds.
“I’ve learned so much more over the years as a trainer than I ever had,” said Webster, who was accompanied by his father, Paul.
“It’s a very refreshing feeling to see one of your own succeed. I’m very anxious about returning to the ring. It’s been a long, hard camp.”
Others weighing in were Cleveland’s Mike Comwell (180 pounds) and Buffalo’s Kassine Omar Cass (167), who will do battle, along with Buffalo’s Tyler Clark (137) and Lockport’s Matt Harrison (135); and Cleveland’s Jason Colone (177), Jessie’s brother, and his opponent, Lockport’s Mike “Hands of War” Moyer.
Eric “The Candyman” Plumeri and Jason Pettite will round up the local fighters on the card.
Tonight’s sponsors include Talkingphonebook.com, ADPRO Sports, Mullane Motors, Cain Witlin Dry Accounting, Carubba Collision, Papa Leo’s, The Fieldstone Restaurant and Mulvey Construction.
Concessions will be offered by local restaurants, Papa Leo’s and The Fieldstone. Besides D’Angelo, the other fight night ring referee will be Joe Pagan of Fredonia.