Kennedy McKinney (born January 10, 1966 in Hernando, Mississippi) was a professional boxer, who won the bantamweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He won the IBF junior featherweight title as a professional as well as the WBO super bantamweight title.

Amateur career

• 1985 2nd place at United States Amateur Championships as a Flyweight, was stopped by Arthur Johnson
• 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 Collins
• 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 Perez (Guatemala) TKO 1
  • Defeated Birajdar (India) forfeit
  • Defeated Steve Mwema (Kenya) points
  • Defeated Phajol Moolsan (Thailand) TKO 1
  • Defeated Aleksandar Hristov (Bulgaria) points

Professional career

Known as "King", McKinney was a cautious yet exciting junior featherweight (super bantamweight) fighter who captured the IBF title by beating Welcome Ncita 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.Kennedy now resides in Golden Meadow, LA, were he is know simply known as "Coach". He is the head trainer of the Bayou Side Boxing Gym.He also is a great trainer and coach for the junior boxers.

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