By Michael Campbell

Ahmed Kaddour (21-2-1, 9 KOs) makes his return to U.S. soil on Friday March 26th when he faces off with Jerome Ellis (12-10-2, 10 KOs) as the main event on a Nedal’s Promotions card at the elegant Hamilton Manor.

“Hollywooooood,” as he was known on NBC’s inaugural season of “The Contender” has reunited with the man who first brought him to America in 2003 as an undefeated Danish prospect.  Nedal Abuhumoud has also contributed to the careers of Said Ouali, Nurhan Suleiman, Kabary Salem, & Omar Sheika.

“He was the first person to help me in the U.S. before I got tied up with The Contender, and then J. Prince and Gary Shaw,” Kaddour said.  “I lost my focus after the show and got caught up in the Hollywood part of boxing.  So after taking some time to regain my motivation, I feel like I’m reborn and blessed to be given another chance to focus on my career and winning belts.”

While portrayed as a brash, cocky young fighter on the reality show to foil the more humble experienced characters, Kaddour took two losses from the television series to Ishe Smith and Alfonso Gomez.  Admittedly not in optimal shape, Kaddour returned to Houston to train for his next fight under the Shaw banner and shined brightly in a dominant victory over Maxell Taylor that was broadcast on ShoBox.

Differences with Shaw led to a protracted period of inactivity before Top Rank promotions put him in twice with journeyman Jesus Valverde and distractions in his personal life outside the ring kept Kaddour from impressing anyone.  A messy and difficult divorce ensued which led to his estrangement from newborn son Jordan.

Finding himself without his wife, son, or trainer and his career off track, he returned to his parents and siblings in Denmark to regroup, recharge, and search his soul.  “It was so good for me to go back,” he reflected.  “It was good for my health, both mentally and physically.  I gained power and strength.  Now my son is four years old, we’ve been reunited and now I’ve got something to do, and someone to do it for.  I want my son to be proud of me.”

With a clear head and new motivation, Ahmed hooked up with the trainer he began with as an eight year old, Gunnar Berg.  Then the offer came for him to fight on Mikkel Kessler’s undercard in September.  Not yet 100%, he took the comeback fight because it would lead to better things and scored a near shutout over rugged German middleweight Mike Ermis.  He summarized the bout, “My timing was off and I was rusty, but it felt good to be back in the ring in an arena and in front of Danish fans.”

That fight led to his reunion with Nedal who is keeping him based in Trenton with new trainers Britton Thomas and Muggs Episcopo.  “He needs someone to push him.  I’ve got him in camp, I pick him up every day and take to gym.  It’s my job to make sure that he’s got what he needs and is focused,” Nedal explained.

“We’ve been going to Philadelphia to spar as well as here at our own gym,” Kaddour shared.  “There it’s really rough sparring, but good training.  We’ve been sparring for a few weeks, moving a level up each week.  I feel like it’s been my best training in three years.”  Kaddour continued to explain the differences between training in the U.S. and Europe, “It’s not the same in Europe as here.  There they take it easy on each other and they try to just work out.  Here it’s not like that.  Every day that you spar, they try to take your head off, there’s no playing around in sparring here.  I like the atmosphere here.  You can smell sweat in the air.  You work with trainers that you know they’ve worked with champions before, and it makes me train even harder.”

The Hamilton Manor is a meeting and banquet venue located in Hamilton, New Jersey, just outside of Trenton.  The picturesque facility also features first class lounges and dining.

Sharing billing on the card with Kaddour will be Omar Sheika and Trenton’s own Terrance Cauthen.  Nedal has put in a tremendous effort to promote with billboards, TV commercials, and posters distributed throughout New York, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia.

The fight card will be distributed an Arabic television via the DANDA TV network and available for purchase online at gofightlive.tv.  Go to NedalsPromotions.com for more info.