Kennedy McKinney
Encyclopedia
Kennedy McKinney is a former professional boxer, who won the bantamweight gold medal
at the 1988 Summer Olympics
. As a professional, he won the IBF and WBO super bantamweight
titles.
in 1992 in a spectacular bout that saw him on the deck before knocking the African cold with a perfect right hand.
After five defenses, among others a KO over Rudy Zavala and a points win over Ncita, he lost his belt to future star Vuyani Bungu
, a fight which was deemed 1994 Upset of the Year by Ring Magazine.
Two years later he challenged undefeated Marco Antonio Barrera
for the WBO super bantamweight title, a vicious battle in which he dropped Barrera in the 11th, but lost via TKO in the 12th. McKinney later took a rematch against Bungu, but lost a narrow split decision. Later that year, he did battle with Junior Jones
who had upset Barrera in an exciting war, one which McKinney won via TKO.
McKinney then moved up a weight class to challenge Luisito Espinosa
for the WBC featherweight
title in 1998. Espinosa made quick work of McKinney, winning via a 2nd round TKO.
After the loss to Espinosa, McKinney quickly lost steam. He would fight only five more times against scattered and limited opposition, three of which took place during a brief comeback run in 2002-03.
Olympic medalists in boxing
This is the complete list of Olympic medalists in boxing from 1904 to 2008.-Light flyweight:*1968 - : up to 48 kg.-Flyweight:*1904: up to 105 lb *1920-1936: up to 112 lb *1948-1964: up to 51 kg...
at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
. As a professional, he won the IBF and WBO super bantamweight
Super Bantamweight
Super bantamweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 122 pounds, or roughly 55.34 kilograms....
titles.
Amateur career
- 1985 2nd place at United States Amateur Championships as a Flyweight, was stopped by Arthur JohnsonArthur JohnsonArthur Johnson may refer to:*Arthur V. Johnson, actor and director in American silent films*Arthur Johnson , English football manager*Arthur Johnson , U.S...
- 1986 2nd place at United States Amateur Championships as a Flyweight, losing by decision to Arthur Johnson
- 1987 3rd place at United States Amateur Championships as a Bantamweight, losing by decision to Michael CollinsMichael Collins- Politics :* Michael Collins , Irish Labour party politician, Lord Mayor Of Dublin 1977–1978* Michael Collins , Irish revolutionary leader, soldier, and politician...
- 1988 2nd place at United States Amateur Championships as a Bantamweight, losing by decision to Jemal Hinton
- 1988 qualified as a Bantamweight for the United States Olympic Team, avenging previous defeats versus Michael Collins, whom he beat three times and Jemal Hinton, all by decision.
- Won the Bantamweight Olympic Gold Medal at the Seoul Olympic Games. Results were:
- Defeated Giovanni PerezGiovanni PérezGiovanni Pérez is a Venezuelan football midfielder who made a total number of 30 appearances for the Venezuela national team between 1997 and 2007. He started his professional career at Deportivo Pasto in Colombia....
(Guatemala) TKO 1 - Defeated Birajdar (India) forfeit
- Defeated Steve Mwema (Kenya) points
- Defeated Phajol MoolsanPhajol MoolsanPhajol Moolsan is a Thai boxer. At the 1988 Summer Olympics he won a bronze medal in the men's Bantamweight category, together with Jorge Julio Rocha of Colombia.In Muay thai his name is Put Keitlansang...
(Thailand) TKO 1 - Defeated Aleksandar HristovAleksandar HristovAleksandar Khristov is a retired boxer from Bulgaria, who became world champion and represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. There he won the silver medal in the bantamweight division...
(Bulgaria) points
- Defeated Giovanni Perez
Professional career
Known as "King", McKinney was a cautious yet exciting junior featherweight (super bantamweight) fighter who captured the IBF title by beating Welcome NcitaWelcome Ncita
Welcome Ncita was a professional boxer and IBF Super Bantamweight Champion. Ncita was born in Mdantsane, South Africa.Known as "The Hawk", Ncita turned professional in 1984 and in 1994 captured the International Boxing Federation Super Bantamweight Title with a victory over Fabrice Benichou in a...
in 1992 in a spectacular bout that saw him on the deck before knocking the African cold with a perfect right hand.
After five defenses, among others a KO over Rudy Zavala and a points win over Ncita, he lost his belt to future star Vuyani Bungu
Vuyani Bungu
Vuyani Bungu was a professional boxer. Known as "Carousel Kid" or "The Beast", Bungu was a force in the super bantamweight division throughout the 1990s.-Professional career:...
, a fight which was deemed 1994 Upset of the Year by Ring Magazine.
Two years later he challenged undefeated Marco Antonio Barrera
Marco Antonio Barrera
Marco Antonio Barrera Tapia is a Mexicanprofessional boxer. He has won numerous world titles in three different weight classes; he is a former two-time WBO super bantamweight , WBC, Lineal, & The Ring featherweight , and WBC & IBF super featherweight champion...
for the WBO super bantamweight title, a vicious battle in which he dropped Barrera in the 11th, but lost via TKO in the 12th. McKinney later took a rematch against Bungu, but lost a narrow split decision. Later that year, he did battle with Junior Jones
Junior Jones
Junior Jones is an American former professional boxer. Known by his nickname of "Poison", he won world championships at bantamweight and super bantamweight, and is best remembered for his two victories over then-undefeated Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera.-Amateur career:Jones won two New York...
who had upset Barrera in an exciting war, one which McKinney won via TKO.
McKinney then moved up a weight class to challenge Luisito Espinosa
Luisito Espinosa
Luisito Pio Espinosa is a retired boxer from the Philippines who won World titles in two different weight divisions....
for the WBC featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
title in 1998. Espinosa made quick work of McKinney, winning via a 2nd round TKO.
After the loss to Espinosa, McKinney quickly lost steam. He would fight only five more times against scattered and limited opposition, three of which took place during a brief comeback run in 2002-03.