Hilmer Kenty
Encyclopedia
James Kenty, also known as Hilmer Kenty (born July 20, 1955 in Austin, Texas
) is a former WBA professional boxing champion in the lightweight
(135lb
) division.
, becoming Emanuel Steward
's first world champion, and the first world champion from Detroit since Joe Louis
decades earlier. Kenty and Tommy Hearns both won WBA belts together and became known as the motor city cobras. Kenty defended his belt three times before losing it to Sean O'Grady in 1981, and retired in 1984.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
) is a former WBA professional boxing champion in the lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
(135lb
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
) division.
Amateur career
Kenty won the National AAU Lightweight championship in 1974 and 1976. He beat Aaron Pryor in the 1976 national A.A.U. Golden Gloves.Professional career
Kenty turned pro in 1977. In 1980, Kenty captured the WBA Lightweight Title with a TKO over Ernesto EspañaErnesto España
Ernesto España was a Venezuelan boxer who held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship in 1979 and 1980.España became a professional boxer in 1975 and won all of his bouts except one when he fought Claude Noel on June 16, 1979, for the vacant WBA lightweight title that had been given...
, becoming Emanuel Steward
Emanuel Steward
Emanuel Steward is an American boxing trainer, commentator and inductee of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.-Life and career:...
's first world champion, and the first world champion from Detroit since Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
decades earlier. Kenty and Tommy Hearns both won WBA belts together and became known as the motor city cobras. Kenty defended his belt three times before losing it to Sean O'Grady in 1981, and retired in 1984.