Traditional Philly

Teon Kennedy is your classic Philly fighter. He has a history of facing tough opponents and beating them. Just like the greats, , Eugene Cyclone Hart, Stanley Kitten Hayward, , and many more.

Kennedy (17-0-1, 7 K0s) has defeated Thomas Snow, Andre Wilson, Jose Angel Berranza and Jorge Diaz. Heis managed by Doc Nowicki, Jim Williams and Joe Hand. He is trained by former junior Smokin’ Wade Hinnant and his brother Randy Hinnant.

Kennedy has been since he was six years old. It has become his life, not just a part of it. He is 25 years old and he has been through a lot, both inside and outside the ring. It is common for fighters who go through experiences Kennedy has to never be the same again.

Kennedy won the vacant USBA super bantamweight title over ’s Francisco Rodriguez on Nov. 20, 2009, at the Legendary Blue Horizon. The bout was everything fans expected it to be--until the end. Rodriguez, who had beaten Kennedy (right) in the amateurs, showed that he had heart like fighters of the past. Kennedy, though, was too much for him.

Everyone involved in the Philly fight scene knows what happened. Tragedy struck that night and Rodriguez was rushed to Hahnemann hospital after the bout. Two days later, he died. An event like that would affect any fighter, young or old. Yet it did not change Kennedy’s heart. He understood that death was, and is, a risk in every fight. Being the classic Philly fighter and following in the footsteps of the city’s finest, he was not going to let the death of Rodriguez stop him from fulfilling his goals. The Rodriquez death was the first in Philadelphia boxing since March 21, 1978. Curtis Parker stopped Jody White in the fourth round of his (Parker’s) fourth fight, and White then died on his way from the Blue Horizon to the hospital that night.

Parker (left) is example enough that no matter what happens, a fighter has to stick to goals. The risk of death is no higher after experiencing it than it was before. By not letting White’s death affect his career, Parker went on to win the USBA title (as did Kennedy) and became a regular on network TV in the early 1980s.

A fighter who takes the risk, understands the risk, has experienced the risk and continues to take the risk, is a fighter with a lot of heart. Kennedy enters the ring each time with that mind-set and his fighting style shows it. He takes the risk again when he faces Mexican native Alejandro Lopez(21-2, 7K0s) on Saturday, Aug. 13, at Bally’s Atlantic City.

Kennedy is a classic stick-and-move fighter. He has the skills to box and will use them if necessary, but he likes to get inside, land his combinations and get out.

He resembles Philadelphia’s former bantamweight champion Joltin Jeff Chandler (33-2-2, 18K0s), both in skills and in heart. Chandler (right), a legitimate Hall-of-Famer, fought anyone and everyone. Kennedy is looking to do the same.

IN OTHER BOXING NEWS: Philadelphia lightweight Victor Vasquez and light- heavyweight Anthony Ferrante have signed promotional contracts with Joey Eye Boxing. Both fighters, along with lightweights Angel Ocasio, Joey Tiberi and heavyweight Joey Dawejko will all be on the Aug. 13 card at Harrah’s Casino Chester.

The author is a senior in sport and recreation management at Temple University. She joined Peltz Boxing as an intern. Follow Peltz Boxing on twitter@PeltzBoxing and our intern @bamonboxing

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