Kevin Kelley (boxer)
# Kevin Kelley (boxer)

Kevin Philip Kelley (born June 29, 1967) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2009, and held the WBC featherweight title from 1993 to 1995.

## Amateur career

Kelley won two New York Golden Gloves Championships as well as the 1985 119 lb Sub-Novice Championship and the 1986 119 lb Open Championship. In 1988 Kelley advanced to the finals of the 125 lb Open division and was to have met Fred Liberatore in the finals. Kelley was injured and could not fight. Liberatore was declared the Champion by Default-Injury.

In the Olympic box-offs he lost to Carl Daniels. His record was 70-5.

## Professional career

### WBC featherweight champion

Known as the "Flushing Flash", Kelley held the WBC Featherweight title and defended it until he lost by TKO to, Mexican Alejandro Martín González, after Kelley failed to come out for the 11th round due to both eyes swollen shut. Kelley won the title by defeating Gregorio Vargas by unanimous decision in 1993.

Kelley was then signed to an HBO contract, and remained in title contention for the next decade. More known for being in big fights rather than gaining big victories, Kelley's resume includes TKO losses to boxing legends Prince Naseem Hamed and Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, both of which came during Kelley's career decline.

### Loss to Hamed

Kelley's defeats include losses to Naseem Hamed. In 1997 Hamed flew to the United States to fight there for the first time. His ceremonious arrival on the British Airways Concorde was covered by multiple media outlets. There, he and former two-time WBC Featherweight champion of the world Kevin Kelley fought in Ring Magazine's fight of the year at the Madison Square Garden in New York. Despite being dropped three times himself, Hamed put Kelley down for a third and final time to win by a fourth-round knockout. This was his first of many fights on HBO. The fight was ranked 100th in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Sporting Moments in 2002.

Kelley knocked out former WBA featherweight champion Derrick Gainer in 1996, a loss which Gainer later avenged via unanimous decision in 1998.

### Loss to Bobby Pacquiao

Kelley was then outclassed and KO'd by Bobby Pacquiao. On September 28, 2006, Kelley met Carlos Hernández in the ring. In an upset victory, Kelley put on his best performance in years, dropping Hernandez in the 4th round en route to a UD victory. Hernandez announced his retirement right after this fight.

Kelley was David Díaz's mandatory for the WBC Interim Lightweight Championship, but he lost a close decision to former titlist Manuel Medina.

## Life after boxing

Kelley now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and is currently the co-host on "The Sucker Punch Show" alongside Colin Gates. This is a brand new show by SETAG Management Group. The Sucker Punch Show has interviewed some of the most iconic names in the sport of boxing: Roy Jones Jr, Errol Spence Jr, Andre Ward, Shawn Porter and many others.

While fighting, Kelley also moonlighted as a color commentator, most notably for HBO. Kelley was the lead on HBO's short lived KO Nation television show. The show served as a "hip hop" based boxing broadcast, and was hosted by Ed Lover.

## Professional boxing record

| 72 fights | 60 wins | 10 losses |
| - | - | - |
| By knockout | 39 | 6 |
| By decision | 21 | 4 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 72 | Loss | 60–10–2 | Vicente Escobedo | TKO | 2 (10), 1:53 | May 21, 2009 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. | |
| 71 | Loss | 60–9–2 | David Rodela | SD | 8 | Oct 10, 2008 | Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 70 | Win | 60–8–2 | Jaime Palma | UD | 10 | Jul 8, 2008 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 69 | Loss | 59–8–2 | Manuel Medina | MD | 12 | Nov 11, 2006 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 68 | Win | 59–7–2 | Carlos Hernández | UD | 10 | Sep 28, 2006 | Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 67 | Loss | 58–7–2 | Bobby Pacquiao | KO | 4 (12), 1:24 | Jun 10, 2006 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | For WBC Continental Americas super featherweight title |
| 66 | Win | 58–6–2 | Juan Carlos Ramírez | KO | 2 (10), 2:29 | Feb 17, 2006 | Cicero Stadium, Cicero, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 65 | Win | 57–6–2 | Sandro Marcos | TKO | 4 (10), 2:23 | Nov 4, 2005 | Ventura Theatre, Ventura, California, U.S. | |
| 64 | Win | 56–6–2 | Jose Reyes | UD | 10 | May 17, 2005 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 63 | Win | 55–6–2 | Felix St Kitts | TKO | 8 (8), 1:47 | Mar 3, 2005 | The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 62 | Loss | 54–6–2 | Marco Antonio Barrera | TKO | 4 (12), 1:32 | Apr 12, 2003 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | For The Ring featherweight title |
| 61 | Win | 54–5–2 | Johnny West | KO | 5 (10), 2:58 | Nov 14, 2002 | American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 60 | Win | 53–5–2 | Humberto Soto | MD | 12 | Jul 13, 2002 | The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant WBA–NABA super featherweight title |
| 59 | Win | 52–5–2 | Raul Franco | TKO | 2 (10), 1:05 | Apr 27, 2002 | Stratosphere, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 58 | Loss | 51–5–2 | Érik Morales | TKO | 7 (12), 2:30 | Sep 2, 2000 | Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S. | For vacant WBC interim featherweight title |
| 57 | Win | 51–4–2 | Frankie Archuleta | KO | 9 (10), 2:59 | Jan 22, 2000 | The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 56 | Loss | 50–4–2 | Benito Rodriguez | UD | 10 | Aug 13, 1999 | Bossier City, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 50–3–2 | Héctor Velázquez | UD | 10 | May 8, 1999 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 49–3–2 | Jorge Ramirez | KO | 9 (10) | Dec 17, 1998 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 53 | Loss | 48–3–2 | Derrick Gainer | UD | 10 | Jul 18, 1998 | The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 48–2–2 | Vincent Howard | UD | 10 | May 8, 1998 | Trump Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 51 | Loss | 47–2–2 | Naseem Hamed | KO | 4 (12), 2:27 | Dec 19, 1997 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | For WBO featherweight title |
| 50 | Win | 47–1–2 | Orlando Fernandez | KO | 10 (12), 0:15 | Jul 12, 1997 | Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBU featherweight title |
| 49 | Win | 46–1–2 | Jesus Salud | UD | 12 | Mar 14, 1997 | Pepsi Arena, Albany, New York, U.S. | Retained WBU featherweight title |
| 48 | Win | 45–1–2 | Edwin Santana | UD | 12 | Nov 16, 1996 | Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBU featherweight title |
| 47 | Win | 44–1–2 | Derrick Gainer | KO | 8 (12), 2:16 | Jun 15, 1996 | Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. | Retained WBU featherweight title |
| 46 | Win | 43–1–2 | Louie Espinoza | UD | 12 | Feb 2, 1996 | Boulder Station Hotel Casino, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant WBU featherweight title |
| 45 | Draw | 42–1–2 | Clarence Adams | MD | 12 | Sep 9, 1995 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | For vacant WBU featherweight title |
| 44 | Draw | 42–1–1 | Tommy Parks | TD | 2 (10), 0:34 | Jul 28, 1995 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 42–1 | Ricardo Rivera | TKO | 9 (10), 1:15 | Mar 31, 1995 | Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 42 | Loss | 41–1 | Alejandro González | RTD | 10 (12), 3:00 | Jan 7, 1995 | Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | Lost WBC featherweight title |
| 41 | Win | 41–0 | Pete Taliaferro | TKO | 10 (10) | Nov 2, 1994 | Southern Belle Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 40–0 | Jose Vida Ramos | TKO | 2 (12), 1:58 | Sep 24, 1994 | Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| 39 | Win | 39–0 | Georgie Navarro | TKO | 6 (10), 0:56 | Jun 26, 1994 | Race Course, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 38–0 | Jesse Benavides | UD | 12 | May 6, 1994 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| 37 | Win | 37–0 | Gregorio Vargas | UD | 12 | Dec 4, 1993 | Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBC featherweight title |
| 36 | Win | 36–0 | Patrick Simeon | UD | 10 | Sep 11, 1993 | Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 35–0 | Adolfo Castillo | TKO | 2 (10), 2:10 | Jul 8, 1993 | Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 34–0 | Jesus Poll | TKO | 6 (10), 2:10 | May 13, 1993 | Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 33–0 | Angel Gonzalez | TKO | 4 (10) | Mar 23, 1993 | Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 32 | Win | 32–0 | Peter Nieves | TKO | 6 (10), 2:03 | Jan 12, 1993 | Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 31–0 | Roberto Villareal | KO | 3 (10), 2:40 | Sep 25, 1992 | Friar Tuck Inn, Catskill, New York, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 30–0 | Antonio Hernandez | UD | 10 | Aug 20, 1992 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 29–0 | Alric Johnson | PTS | 10 | Jun 2, 1992 | Weenahal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 28 | Win | 28–0 | Tomas Valdez | TKO | 2 (10), 0:31 | May 21, 1992 | Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | Troy Dorsey | UD | 12 | Feb 18, 1992 | Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained WBC Continental Americas featherweight title |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Hector Padilla | TKO | 2 (10) | Jan 31, 1992 | Waregem, Belgium | |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Rafael Zuñiga | TKO | 4 (12), 1:37 | Nov 12, 1991 | Union Plaza Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Continental Americas featherweight title |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Cesar Almonte | KO | 2 (10) | Oct 4, 1991 | Waregem, Belgium | |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Juan Gomez Polo | TKO | 2 (8) | Aug 31, 1991 | Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, Curaçao | |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | James Pipps | TKO | 4 (10), 0:26 | Jul 23, 1991 | Kutsher's Hotel, Thompson, New York, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Job Walters | TKO | 6 (10) | Jun 14, 1991 | New York City, New York, U.S. | Won vacant New York featherweight title |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Richie Foster | KO | 1 | May 27, 1991 | Weenahal, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Harold Warren | UD | 10 | Mar 22, 1991 | Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon, New York, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Boualem Belkif | KO | 3 | Feb 12, 1991 | Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Ernesto Quintana | TKO | 1 (10), 1:04 | Nov 30, 1990 | Sands Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Jesse Sierra | TKO | 5 (8), 1:47 | Oct 30, 1990 | The Pines Hotel, Fallsburg, New York, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Cruz Saldana | KO | 1 (8), 1:43 | Sep 13, 1990 | Pioneer Hall, Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Russell Davison | PTS | 8 | Dec 23, 1989 | Sporthal Hoogvliet, Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Martin Mendoza | KO | 1 | Nov 30, 1989 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Fermin Rodriguez | KO | 2 | Nov 13, 1989 | Houtrusthallen, The Hague, Netherlands | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Jean Pierre Dibateza | PTS | 8 | Oct 30, 1989 | Houtrusthallen, The Hague, Netherlands | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Byron Chacon | TKO | 1 (6), 2:01 | Aug 24, 1989 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Jose Villasenor | KO | 1, 0:55 | Jul 27, 1989 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Bruce Flippins | TKO | 4 (6) | May 25, 1989 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Anthony Barela | UD | 6 | May 5, 1989 | Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Anthony Barela | UD | 6 | Mar 3, 1989 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Carlos Peralta | KO | 2 (4), 2:56 | Feb 9, 1989 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Agustin Silva | TKO | 4 (4), 2:38 | Dec 15, 1988 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Joey King | PTS | 4 | Nov 10, 1988 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Vicente Arias | TKO | 1 (4), 2:35 | Oct 27, 1988 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Willie Barnes | TKO | 2 (4) | Sep 8, 1988 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
