AJ Verel

Education

Verel holds degrees in Psychology, Business, and Education.

Martial arts

Verel holds black belts in five different styles of martial arts and has been training since the age of 9. Verel was a member of the U.S. / Canadian (Can/Am) Tae Kwon Do demonstration team and the N.A.C.K. Team, which won two Gold Medals in 1988 and 1992. Like fellow kickboxers "Joe Lewis", "Troy Dorsey", "Benny Urquidez", and "Rick Roufus", Verel has a strong classical boxing background. Verel is credited with fellow Hall of Famers Joe Lewis, "Bill Wallace, and Troy Dorsey, for winning both World Sport Karate and Kickboxing Titles in the same year.

Original Toughman Contest

Verel won two consecutive boxing competitions in the Original "Toughman Contest".

KickBoxing

Verel is credited with winning four World Titles in two separate weight classes. The "World Kickboxing Association" (WKA) and "World Kickboxing Organization" (WKO) World Middleweight Titles, and the "World Kickboxing Council" (WKC) and "World Kickboxing League" (WKL) Light Heavyweight Titles.

Mixed Martial Arts

Verel coached and trained fighters for "Ultimate Fighting Championship" I-VII, the "International Fighting Championships", "King Of The Cage", and Combat Zone as well as being an alternate himself.

Stage

In 1993 Verel was featured in two professional stage productions, Anything Goes, with Tony Award Winning Actress "Debbie Shapiro-Gravitte" and Tony nominated Actor Ray DeMattis and also the production Damn Yankees with Brian Sutherland.

Film

Verel first appeared in Talons of the Eagle and T.C. 2000 with Tae Bo creator "Billy Blanks". Verel became a union actor and stunt coordinator after having appeared in Against the Ropes, which starred "Meg Ryan", "Omar Epps", "Tony Shaloub" and "Tim Daly". The film was also directed by actor/director "Charles S. Dutton".

Verel has appeared in several features to date including Moving Target, Shadow Creature, Poultrygeist, Little Chicago, STAR TREK, Unstoppable, Starring "Denzel Washington" and "Chris Pine", "Tammy", "The American Side", "Best Man Holiday" and " The Amazing Spider-Man 2"

Production work

Behind the camera Verel has been in the role of stunt coordinator/stunt performer/second unit director and producer on a number of projects. Such as Shadow Creature, T.C. 2000, Talons of the Eagle, Star Trek, Back in Action and The Brawl in the Falls, which featured heavyweight boxers "Big" Michael Grant, and "The Italian Hitman" Paul Marinaccio.

Television

Verel has appeared as a boxing analyst for "CNN", LCTV, SportsBlast TV and Sunshine Sports. Verel was the chief official for four seasons on the FX reality show Toughman Championship Series.

Professional and political career

Verel has been called as an expert to testify on combative sports. His knowledge of combative sport laws, his personal ring experience, educational and emergency medical background is why FSN and API chose him for television as a commentator and chief referee. Verel has officiated in 4 Different countries and over 20 of the United States. He has officiated over 2,500 boxing matches, 600 kickboxing and MMA and 40 professional entertainment wrestling matches.

In 1997 Verel was involved in bringing action against NYS to allow combative sports after Governor George Pataki signed a Bill outlawing it and won minor victories is getting injunctions for a short period along with API a promotions company out of Michigan. In 2010 Verel after Chartering the Martial Arts/MMA Hall of Fame with the NYS Department of Education Verel wrote Bill proposals that would legalize MMA in New York since its ban in 1997. His Bill proposal called for establishing and promulgating rules for professionals and a commission to oversee all amateur combative sports and single discipline martial arts. At the time New York State Assembly member Sam Hoyt became a sponsor followed by Mark J. F. Schroeder, Dennis Gabryszak, John Cerreto, Michael Kearns, Dean Murray, Angela Wozniak, Margret Markey and Senators Timothy M. Kennedy, Mark Grisanti, Joseph Griffo all introduced the Bills which gained support steadily and after passing in the Senate but stalling in the Assembly for 6 consecutive years. The Bill finally saw passage and was signed into Law by Gov.Andrew Cuomo in 2016.

Verel ran for a vacant seat in the Buffalo Common Council in 2012. Though he was initially considered a standout in the race after a 3-month 4-4 tie vote, he failed to gain the necessary support after false allegations of a criminal history and prison sentence arose. On April 25, 2012 "The Buffalo News" reported that Verel had twice been arrested for Burglary. The first, in 1989, alleged a conviction and prison sentence served between July 20, 1989, and May 31, 1991. However no credible evidence supports this and searches of New York State Records show no conviction, sentence or incarceration. The story goes on to allege that Verel was again arrested on second degree burglary charges in 1998. Again, no evidence exists in Court Records to support this allegation. Verel opened action against The Buffalo News for Reckless Disregard for the Truth citing New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254.

In 2014 Verel was sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff by Timothy B. Howard the Erie County Sheriff in New York where he was assigned to the Scientific Staff Division. Then in 2016 A.J. Verel was elected and sworn in as the 52nd President of the Judges & Police Executives Conference of Erie County, NY.

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