Junior"Poison"Jones,Kennedy McKinney, Kevin Kelly

[IMDAZED]

Pretty cool. But isn't Kennedy McKinney not doing to well these days on the financial end.

I don't think he took care of himself even during his fighting days.

[soul_survivor]

Why don't they get much talk. These guys were great fighters and all put on great fights in they're time but it's like all anyone remembers is Barrera and Morales.

Boxing fans do talk about these guys, the history of those divisions in the late 90s/early 00s is incomplete without these guys, especially considering the great fight Kelley and Naz had and the voodoo Jones held over Barrera.

Having said that, none of them were truly great fighters and were superseded by the true greats in MAB, Morales and Naz.

But hats off to all of them, terrific group of lil men.

[therealpugilist]

Very true. A lot of really good fighters in those divisions, just before the Pacmania hit, so most people never got a chance to see them...probably wouldn't have cared much if they did though to be honest.

A lot of great fights though during that period.

the 2000s was top heavy....Pac, Ayala, Tapia, MAB and Morales dominated 122-126 whereas in the 90s there was a dozen very good fighters, just not all time greats


made for highly competitive fights

[BennyST]

Yeah that was one of those jaw-dropping fights. He bombed Barrera out of there. I thought Jones was washed up and weak-chinned going in. After he won the rematch he was flying pretty high...until McKinney exposed that china chin.

I think he'd had it exposed earlier in his career too.

Junior Jones really had Barrera's number.

In the second fight Barrera came in more declined and still lost.

Junior Jones had a Khan's chin

Not quite as bad as Khan's I think, but that was his major downfall.

Man, Jones really fought everyone though. Barrera, Morales, McKinney, Canizalez, Johnson, Patterson, Ingle, among others.

Had one of the best right hands, and right hand counters of that entire era.

[IMDAZED]

I think he'd had it exposed earlier in his career too.

It sure was. I mentioned I saw him as china-chinned going in. I was really surprised he took Barrera's punches so well.

[boxinghead530]

Junior Jones, McKinney and Kevin Kelley were some very good fighters. Kelley and McKinney were always a joy to watch when they fought. When they fought no matter what, win or lose, you were going to be see a good fight and be entertained to the max as they were always in exciting fights.

Junior Jones had an amazing performance against Barrera but outside those two fights he was kind of inconsistent with his talent, and his talent level was prolly higher than the other two. Its just his inconsistency during his career was his problem so for that I say McKinney and Kelley were better fighters.

But the best out of the three is definitely McKinney. He had the great amateur pedigree with an Olympic Gold medal to cap it off and then had a very very good pro career. He always brought his A-game in the ring not matter what. IMO he is one of those fighters that is right at the borderline of making the HOF.

[therealpugilist]

Junior Jones, McKinney and Kevin Kelley were some very good fighters. Kelley and McKinney were always a joy to watch when they fought. When they fought no matter what, win or lose, you were going to be see a good fight and be entertained to the max as they were always in exciting fights.

Junior Jones had an amazing performance against Barrera but outside those two fights he was kind of inconsistent with his talent, and his talent level was prolly higher than the other two. Its just his inconsistency during his career was his problem so for that I say McKinney and Kelley were better fighters.

But the best out of the three is definitely McKinney. He had the great amateur pedigree with an Olympic Gold medal to cap it off and then had a very very good pro career. He always brought his A-game in the ring not matter what. IMO he is one of those fighters that is right at the borderline of making the HOF.

personally I think Kelly should be in the hall of fame....He was exciting to watch, skilled, helped bring $$$ to the lower divisions, and also was an elite fighter.....I wouldnt say an ATG but he was great for the sport....Didnt shy away from challenges

60-10-2 (39 kos)

had a long unbeaten run and fought the best of the 90s in his prime and past it

[Boxfan83]

Why don't they get much talk. These guys were great fighters and all put on great fights in they're time but it's like all anyone remembers is Barrera and Morales.

Why didnt they get much talk? Well to be quite honest I really dont see to many brothas paying attention to the small weights, and the guys being AA wouldve needed that support to be talked about more. Typically Mexicans and Asian fans are the ones that make a big deal about these lower classes which is why guys like Pacquiao Morales and Barrera were highly praised and talked about because of their fans. But IMO those guys as fighters were great fighters, they proved triangle theories are a bunch of bologna, you throw Pacquiao, Hamed, Kelly, McKinney, Jones, Morales, and Barrera in a tournament and who knows whod win, styles make fights and all could beat each other on any given Saturday.

[boxinghead530]

personally I think Kelly should be in the hall of fame....He was exciting to watch, skilled, helped bring $$$ to the lower divisions, and also was an elite fighter.....I wouldnt say an ATG but he was great for the sport....Didnt shy away from challenges

60-10-2 (39 kos)

had a long unbeaten run and fought the best of the 90s in his prime and past it

Well I agree with Kelley possibly being in. I loved watching that guy fight. He was never in a boring fight and he did have a good long high quality run. He beat some good fighters and his fight with the Prince was one of the best fights of the 90's. Kelley is one of those guys on the border of making it and I wouldn't mind seeing him get in.

[Larry the boss]

Pretty cool. But isn't Kennedy McKinney not doing to well these days on the financial end.

All he can do is advise him, cant control another mans actions