James Kenty, also known as Hilmer Kenty (born July 30, 1955 in Austin, Texas) is a former professional boxer, best known as the first professional world champion produced by Kronk Gym in Detroit under trainer Emanuel Steward. Kenty is a former WBA lightweight (135lb) champion of the world. He was selected a member of the All-American AAU boxing team for 1973, and was named the top lightweight amateur boxer in the nation in 1973 by the National AAU Boxing Committee.
Early years Kenty was raised in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Linden McKinley High school, where he played on the reserve football team his sophomore year.
Amateur career Kenty started his amateur boxing career at age 12. He was coached by the greatest amateur coach in history of amateur boxing, Bill Cummings Jr. Kenty won his first Golden Glove's title at age 13. In 1972 Kenty went to the finals of the US Olympic trials in the Bantamweight division(119 pounds), losing on a decision to US Olympic Representative Ricardo Carreras. In 1973 Kenty moved up to the 132 pound lightweight division. In 1974 and 1975 Kenty became the National AAU lightweight champion. In 1975 he was considered and awarded the “Outstanding boxer” of the National AAU tournament.
Professional career Kenty turned pro in 1977. In 1980, Kenty captured the WBA Lightweight Title with a TKO over Ernesto España, becoming Emanuel Steward's first world champion, and the first world champion from Detroit since Joe Louis decades earlier. Kenty and Thomas Hearns both won WBA belts together and became known as the Motor City Cobras. Kenty defended his belt three times including against Vilomar Fernandez, in a fight in which Kenty suffered a leg injury in round thirteen, before losing it to Sean O'Grady in 1981, and retired in 1984. His only other loss in 31 fights came at the hands of fellow Texan, Roberto Elizondo, by a second round technical knockout when the bout was stopped after Kenty felt ill during the contest.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes31Win29–2Dave OdemSD10Aug 16, 198430Win28–2Daniel CardonaKO4 (10)Jun 28, 198429Win27–2Freddie PendletonUD10Apr 19, 198428Win26–2Sammy YoungTKO3 (10)Mar 10, 198427Win25–2Ali Kareem MuhammadUD10Nov 30, 198326Win24–2Ali Kareem MuhammadPTS10Aug 13, 198325Win23–2James MartinezUD10Jan 28, 198324Loss22–2Roberto ElizondoRTD2 (10)Oct 24, 198223Win22–1John MontesUD10Aug 8, 198222Win21–1Chris FernandezTKO4 (10)Jun 11, 198221Loss20–1Sean O'GradyUD15Apr 12, 198120Win20–0Vilomar FernandezUD15Nov 8, 198019Win19–0Ernesto EspañaTKO4 (15)Sep 20, 198018Win18–0Young Ho OhTKO9 (15)Aug 2, 198017Win17–0Ernesto EspañaTKO9 (15)Mar 2, 198016Win16–0Scotty ForemanKO3 (6)Nov 30, 197915Win15–0Sebastian Mosqueira GonzalezTKO4 (10)Oct 18, 197914Win14–0Bobby FloresKO1 (10)Aug 23, 197913Win13–0Ralph RacineUD10Aug 2, 197912Win12–0Arturo LeonUD10Jun 28, 197911Win11–0Benny BenitezTKO5 (10)May 8, 197910Win10–0Alberto HerreraKO4 (10)Mar 3, 19799Win9–0Jose GonzalezRTD7 (10)Jan 25, 19798Win8–0Jose PenaTKO3 (10)Jan 11, 19797Win7–0Eddie MurrayTKO3 (?)Dec 9, 19786Win6–0Jesse RogersKO1 (6)Oct 26, 19785Win5–0Ron PettigrewPTS6Jul 27, 19784Win4–0Mike GrayTKO2 (6)Apr 17, 19783Win3–0Earl StringerTKO3 (6)Dec 16, 19772Win2–0Ray CarringtonRTD3 (6)Nov 26, 19771Win1–0Steve HomanPTS6Oct 13, 1977
See also Kronk Gym List of world lightweight boxing champions
References
External links
Return to KRONK Kenty remains associated with KRONK Gym as part of the leadership group overseeing the gym's 2025 revival at the Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center in Detroit.