Kevin Kelley (boxer) facts for kids

Kevin Philip Kelley, born on June 29, 1967, is an American former professional boxer. He competed in the sport from 1988 to 2009. Kevin was a champion, holding the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title. He held this important title from 1993 to 1995.

Kevin Kelley's Boxing Journey

Kevin Kelley was a talented boxer known as "The Flushing Flash." He had an exciting career, winning many fights and becoming a world champion. Let's learn more about his path in boxing.

Starting Out: Amateur Career

Before becoming a professional, Kevin Kelley was a successful amateur boxer. He won two New York Golden Gloves Championships. These are big competitions for young boxers. He won the 119-pound Sub-Novice Championship in 1985. The next year, in 1986, he won the 119-pound Open Championship.

In 1988, Kevin reached the finals of the 125-pound Open division. However, he got injured and couldn't fight. His opponent was declared the winner. Kevin's amateur record was very good, with 70 wins and only 5 losses.

Becoming a Professional Champion

Kevin Kelley turned professional in 1988. He quickly made a name for himself. He was known for his exciting fighting style. In 1993, Kevin won the World Boxing Council (WBC) Featherweight title. He earned this championship by beating Gregorio Vargas. He won that fight by a unanimous decision, meaning all the judges agreed he was the winner.

Kevin defended his title several times. However, he eventually lost it to Alejandro Martín González. Kevin couldn't continue the fight after the 10th round. His eyes were too swollen to see.

Facing Tough Opponents

After losing his title, Kevin Kelley continued to fight many big matches. He signed a contract with HBO, a major TV channel for boxing. He fought against some of the most famous boxers of his time.

The Fight Against Naseem Hamed

One of Kevin's most memorable fights was against Prince Naseem Hamed in 1997. This was Hamed's first fight in the United States. It was a huge event at Madison Square Garden in New York. The fight was very exciting, with both boxers getting knocked down. In the end, Hamed won by knockout in the fourth round. This fight was so thrilling that it was named Ring Magazine's "Fight of the Year."

Kevin also fought other boxing legends. He had tough matches against Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. These fights happened later in his career.

Other Notable Fights

In 1996, Kevin knocked out former WBA featherweight champion Derrick Gainer. Gainer later won a rematch against Kevin in 1998. Kevin also fought Bobby Pacquiao, losing by knockout in 2006.

Later that year, Kevin had a great comeback fight. He beat Carlos Hernández by unanimous decision. This was a big surprise victory for Kevin. Hernández even announced his retirement after that fight.

Life After Boxing

After retiring from boxing, Kevin Kelley started a new chapter. He now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a co-host on "The Sucker Punch Show." This show interviews many famous boxers. Some of the guests have included Roy Jones Jr. and Errol Spence Jr.

While he was still fighting, Kevin also worked as a boxing commentator. He provided expert opinions during fights, especially for HBO. He was the main commentator for HBO's show KO Nation. This show was a hip-hop themed boxing broadcast.