Teon Kennedy: “I’m Ready for Anyone”

A pro since 2007, 25-year-old Teon Kennedy, of Philadelphia, PA, finds himself perhaps just one fight away from a major payday in the super bantamweight division.

Currently ranked No. 7 in the world at 122 pounds by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), Kennedy faces another stern challenge Jan. 13 againstCHRIS MARTIN, of San Diego, CA, in a Las Vegas 10-round fight which will be televised live by ESPN 2.

“I’ve wanted to get on ESPN for a long time,” said Kennedy, a former National Golden Gloves flyweight champion. “I’m looking forward to fighting CHRIS MARTIN. I’ve seen him on tape and he’s a good boxer but now that my head is cleared, I’m ready for anyone.”

Kennedy was referring to legal problems he had last summer when he spent three days in jail in an assault case in which the charges were later dropped.

However, while he was out on bail but still facing a potential trial, he defended his regional super bantamweight belts Aug. 13 and lost a unanimous 12-round decision to Alejandro Lopez, of Tijuana, Mexico, at Ballys Atlantic City.

That was Kennedy’s first loss as a pro. His record now is 17-1-1, 7 K0s.

Earlier in 2011, Kennedy and then-undefeated Jorge Diaz, of New Brunswick, NJ, engaged in one of the year’s best fights with Kennedy scoring a pair of knockdowns en route to a unanimous 12-round decision at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

Rarely in an easy fight, Kennedy also has beaten Francisco Rodriguez, Jose Angel Berranza and Alex Becerra.  Until he lost to Lopez, Kennedy held the United States Boxing Association (USBA) and North American Boxing Association (NABA) titles at 122 pounds.

This will mark Kennedy’s first fight in Las Vegas. His 25 previous fights have taken place in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Delaware.

“Fighting out of town should be no problem,” said Kennedy. “In the amateurs, we boxed everywhere.”

Kennedy is managed by Doc Nowicki, Jim Williams and Joe Hand. He is trained by former pro lightweight Wade Hinnant and his brother Randy Hinnant.