Career
In 1988 Kelley advanced to the finals of the 125 lb Open division and was to have met Fred Liberatore in the finals. Kelley was injured and could not fight. In the Olympic box-offs he lost to Carl Daniels.
His record was 62-5.
WBC Featherweight Championship
Kelley was then signed to an Home Box Office contract, and remained in title contention for the next decade. More known for being in big fights rather than gaining big victories, Kelley"s resume includes TKO losses to boxing legends Prince Naseem Hamed and Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, both of which came during Kelley"s career decline. Loss to Hamed
Kelley"s defeats include losses to Naseem Hamed.
In 1997 Hamed flew to the United States to fight there for the first time.
His ceremonious arrival on the British Airways Concorde was covered by multiple media outlets. This was his first of many fights on Home Box Office. The fight was ranked 100th in Channel 4"s 100 Greatest Sporting Moments in 2002.
Loss to Bobby Pacquiao
Kelley was then outclassed and KO"d by Bobby Pacquiao. On September 28, 2006, Kelley met Carlos Hernández in the ring.
In an upset victory, Kelley put on his best performance in years, dropping Hernandez in the 4th round en route to a UD victory.
Hernandez announced his retirement right after this fight. Kelley was David Díaz"s mandatory for the WBC Interim Lightweight Championship, but in his most recent bout, a close decision to former titleist Manuel Medina. His current record is 60 wins, 10 losses, and two draws.
He has 39 wins by knockout.
While fighting, Kelley also has moonlighted as a color commentator, most notably for Home Box Office. Kelley was the lead on Home Box Office"s short lived KO Nation television show. The show served as a "hip hop" based boxing broadcast, and was hosted by Editor Lover.
Kelley now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and works as a timeshare salesman for Grandview.
