Abdallah picks apart tough Englishman at sold out Kenan Arena; awaits word from WKA president Crenshaw on world title fight
LOCKPORT —
The morning after trading punches at Saturday’s historic fight at the Kenan Center Arena, Lockport’s Amer Abdallah and James Wallis of the United Kingdom said goodbye by trading text messages.
Abdallah’s hard-fought, 10-round unanimous decision victory over the Swansea, UK brawler was fresh on both fighters’ minds — and bodies.
“I woke up to a text message from James. He said, ‘Hey champ, how sore are you today?’ I sent one back and said ‘About as sore as you are,’” quipped Abdallah, the WKA United States Light Heavyweight champion, who’s 97-92, 97-94, 97-94 victory sets the stage for a coveted world title shot.
“I feel strong, but obviously I’m a little sore today,” said the undefeated Abdallah (15-0), who was cut — not seriously — over the left eye by an accidental head butt late in the fight. Great corner work helped Team Abdallah overcome that temporary obstacle..
“Right at the opening bell, he hit me with a roundhouse kick that I blocked, but I could tell that he was very strong. His physique alone, was deceiving. He was very solid. He came in over-weight (196 pounds, compared to Abdallah’s 184), but he was durable. And we knew he was a mover, so our plan was to make him fight a way he wasn’t used to.”
Abdallah dominated the pace and tempo throughout, but Wallis showed tremendous stamina and came up with a few magic tricks of his own.
“When I dropped him in the 10th round, I hit him and he buckled, so I started to turn around when I saw him on the way down, but I guess he caught the rope and got right back up because when I turned around he was standing there,” Abdallah said.
“I’d give myself a B-minus as a grade. He put up a good fight and used his head very well. He was definitely one of the toughest fighters I’ve ever faced. And he was a class act.”