Hall-of-Fame promoter J Russell Peltz today announced the signing of 2004 National Golden Gloves featherweight champion Teon Kennedy, of Philadelphia, PA, to an exclusive promotional contract, along with junior middleweight Latif Mundy, former Pennsylvania GG champ..
Both are unbeaten in five pro fights apiece and their careers will be under the guidance of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., and Joe Hand of Joe Hand Promotions, Inc.
“Teon Kennedy reminds me of a young Jeff Chandler,” said Peltz, referring to the Hall-of-Fame bantamweight champion he promoted from 1976 to 1984. “Because of his amateur background, Teon is more advanced at this stage than Jeff, who only had two amateur fights. We’re banking on Teon moving up the ladder by fighting the best, the same way Jeff did it.”
Kennedy, 21, was a two-time Pennsylvania GG champion.
In his last fight Aug. 31 at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, NY, Kennedy scored a six-round decision over Francisco Palacios, of the Bronx, NY. He is 5-0, 3 K0s, since turning pro this year.
Kennedy is scheduled to box again Friday evening, Oct. 5, at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia.
Mundy, 24, won the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves title at 165 pounds in 2004, the same year he finished third in the Nationals. He was fourth in the 2005 Nationals at 152 pounds.
As a pro, Mundy is 5-0, 1 K0.
“No one has had worse luck than Latif,” said Peltz. “He should have had at least eight or nine fights by now. One of his opponents got locked up at the weigh-in in Trenton, NJ, for child support. Another one turned up with an abnormal EKG the day before the fight at the Foxwoods Casino. But Latif always has a smile on his face and he never gets down. He’s a pleasure to be around.”
Mundy also is scheduled to box Oct 5 at the New Alhambra.
Both Kennedy and Mundy are trained by the brother team of Wade and Randy Hinnant.
“Wade was a world-class lightweight when he boxed for me in the 1970s,” said Peltz. “He beat guys like Johnny Copeland and Norman Goins and Mike Everett and he gave Bruce Curry a hard fight. If he hadn’t developed an eye problem, who knows how well he could have done?
“As a trainer, you can’t argue with the work he and Randy have done. They’ve got Kennedy, Mundy, Chazz Witherspoon and Lujuan Simon. None of them has lost yet.”