Kennedy McKinney

Kennedy McKinney (born January 10, 1966) is an American 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.

McKinney took up boxing while serving in the U.S. Army, private first class stationed at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

McKinney claimed an amateur record of 214 wins, 13 losses.

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 staggered and taking a standing eight count 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.

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 Olive Branch, Mississippi, where he is simply known as "Coach McKinney".

He is the Head Boxing Coach at the Prize Fight Gym in Southaven, Mississippi.

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.