A-Former world-title challenger Teon Kennedy, of Philadelphia, and undefeated Jerry Belmontes, of Corpus Christi, meet in a 10-round junior lightweight contest on Saturday evening, Dec. 8, at Pearson/McGonigle Halls on the campus of Temple University. The fight will be part of the NBC Sports Network Fight Night show.
Topping the show will be another Philadelphian, Bryant “By By” Jennings, who defends his USBA heavyweight championship against Bowie Tupou, of Tongo, in a scheduled 12-round contest.
The eight-fight live card begins at 7pm and the NBCSN broadcast will begin at 9PM ET.
“Teon no longer can fight as a super bantamweight,” said promoter J Russell Peltz. “He has had trouble making 122 pounds for more than a year and he feels more comfortable at 130. He wants to make a run at junior lightweight and he picked a formidable foe in Belmontes, who has not lost in 17 pro fights.”
Main Events CEO, Kathy Duva, said “This is a classic “crossroads” situation for both fighters. Belmontes is the new guy, trying to make a name for himself while Kennedy is at an entirely different kind of crossroads in his career as he reinvents himself in a higher weight class.”
Kennedy, 26, has not boxed since June 9 when he was stopped in five rounds in Las Vegas, NV, by Guillermo Rigondeuax, of Cuba, in their scheduled 12-round bout for Rigondeaux’ WBA super bantamweight title.
A pro since 2007, Kennedy has a 17-2-2 record with seven knockouts. He is a former USBA super bantamweight champion and has wins over Jorge Diaz, of New Brunswick, NJ, and over Jose Angel Berranza and Alex Becerra.
Kennedy is happy to be back in Philly, “It’s a great opportunity to fight on this card in Philly, cause I can showcase my skill again on TV…and when I win, it will put me me back where I need to be.”
Belmontes, 23, is 17-0, 5 K0s. Known as the “Corpus Christi Kid”, Belmontes was an amateur superstar in Texas, and has dispatched seventeen straight opponents since turning professional in 2008.
In his last fight on Sept. 8 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, Belmontes earned an eight-round unanimous decision over Joselito Collado, of Jamaica, Queens, NY. In May of this year he easily outpointed Ramesis Gil in 8 rounds in Pharr,TX.
This will be Belmontes’ second fight on the East Coast. Belmontes immediately jumped at the opportunity to take this fight with no concern about being in Kennedy’s backyard, “Hell yeah, I’ll take the fight! Fans are really going to like this one. I have watched all of Kennedy’s fights on TV. I have a lot of confidence I’ll get the ‘W’.”
