Kenny Lane

Kenny Lane
Statistics
Real name Kenneth L. Lane
Rated at Lightweight
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Nationality United States
Born April 9, 1932
Big Rapids, Michigan
Died August 5, 2008 (aged 76)
Muskegon, Michigan
Stance Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights 100
Wins 82
Wins by KO 19
Losses 16
Draws 2
No contests 0

Kenny Lane was a southpaw boxer. He fought for lightweight and light welterweight titles of the world, once against Joe Brown and twice against Carlos Ortiz.

Early life

Kenny was raised on a farm in Big Rapids Michigan with his four brothers and sister. According to his family he was always fighting with his brothers and it is assumed that his southpaw stance was adopted to defend himself against his older brother who later became an Olympic boxer. [1]

Professional boxing career

Lane was known for having a very unorthodox way of fighting. This combined with the fact that he was a southpaw made him an excellent boxer and in 1953 started his professional career. [2]

Quote from Ortiz. "No one was more difficult to figure out than Kenny Lane, the guy was unbelievably clever" [3]

Noteworthy opponents

He had a controversial decision loss to Joe Brown for undisputed lightweight championship of the world.

The Ortiz rubber match for light welterweight title.

Comeback at age 50

Lane decided at age 50 to round out his professional career to 100 bouts. He dropped back down to his fighting weight from almost 200 pounds.[4]

After beating 3 much younger opponents he lost to the fourth.

Kenny decided to retire for the final time, making the even 100 bouts he sought.

Family life

Kenny Lane married his wife Ruth as a teenager in Big Rapids, MI. Kenny and Ruth had four children (Lori, Kenny Jr., Todd, and Melody). They later became grandparents of 14 grandsons and grand daughters (Andy, Ryan, Josh, Keith, Jasmine, Lucas, Cole, Cody, Grady, Olivia, Suzie, Bethany, Emily, and Kyle) as well as 4 great grandchildren (Hailey, Ethan, Elliot and Adelle.

Later years

After retiring Kenny continued teaching boxing in the Muskegon area. Kenny ran the boxing program at the Muskegon Recreation Center at Smith-Ryerson Park in Muskegon Heights. Several times Kenny drove less fortunate members of the program to meetings and matches across Michigan, often on his own dollar.

In 1995 Morrissey released an album called Southpaw Grammar. The cover featured an old photograph of Lane from the April 1963 issue of The Ring magazine.. [5]

Lane was admitted into the world boxing hall of fame in 2004. [6]

Later in life Lane became an avid golfer and had a tournament named for him. He died of a heart attack on August 5, 2008 while golfing at The Bent Pine golf course in Whitehall, MI. After Kenny's funeral on August 8, services were held for family and friends at Bent Pine Golf course courtesy of the owners. [7]

Professional boxing record

82 Wins (19 knockouts), 16 Losses, 2 Draws

[8]

Result Opponent Type Round, Time Date Location Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss Dave Guerra Split Decision Unknown 1985-11-02 Grand Rapids, MI Second retirement.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Willie Floyd McIntosh KO Unknown 1983-06-18 Muskegon, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Paul Lewis KO Unknown 1983-04-16 Muskegon, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Bobby Plegge PTS Unknown 1982-07-17 Muskegon, MI Lane comes out of retirement at age 50.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss Eddie Perkins Unanimous Decision Unknown 1965-10-25 New Orleans, LA Lane retires.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss Carlos Hernandez KO Unknown 1964-10-05 Maracaibo, Venezuela none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss Dave Charnley PTS Unknown 1964-06-02 Wembley, London, UK none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Stoffel Steyn TKO Unknown 1964-05-09 Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss Carlos Ortiz Unanimous Decision Unknown 1964-04-11 San Juan, Puerto Rico WBA and WBC Lightweight titles
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Johnny Bizzarro Split Decision Unknown 1964-02-19 Erie, PA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Paul Armstead Unanimous Decision Unknown 1963-08-19 Saginaw, MI Michigan lightweight title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Vicente Milan Derado Unanimous Decision Unknown 1963-03-02 New York City, NY none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Len Matthews TKO Round 9, Unknown 1962-09-15 Philadelphia, PA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Carlos Hernandez Unanimous Decision Unknown 1962-07-14 New York City, NY none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Tommy Tibbs Unanimous Decision Unknown 1962-06-11 Boston, MA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Luis Molina Unanimous Decision Unknown 1962-04-14 San Jose, CA none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss Garland Randall Unanimous Decision Unknown 1962-01-23 Houston, TX none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Aissa Hashas PTS Unknown 1961-10-16 Paris, France none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Virgil Akins PTS Unknown 1961-09-22 Annapolis, MD none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Garland Randall Unanimous Decision Unknown 1961-08-30 Amarillo, TX none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win TJ Jones PTS Unknown 1961-08-14 Chicago, IL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Willie Robertson Unanimous Decision Unknown 1961-06-30 Muskegon, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Ray Portilla TKO Unknown 1961-06-16 San Antonio, TX none
Draw Curtis Cokes PTS Unknown 1961-06-08 Dallas, TX none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Manuel Gonzalez Unanimous Decision Unknown 1961-05-16 Odessa, TX none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Garland Randall Unanimous Decision Unknown 1961-05-01 Dallas, TX none
Draw Carlos Hernandez PTS Unknown 1961-02-20 Caracas, Venezuela none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Lose Jose Stable Unanimous Decision Unknown 1961-01-23 New York City, NY none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Lahouari Godih MD Unknown 1960-12-06 Philadelphia, PA none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Lose Len Matthews TKO Unknown 1960-10-08 Los Angeles, CA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Sid Adams TKO Unknown 1960-09-27 Philadelphia, PA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Douglas Vaillant Unanimous Decision Unknown 1960-08-16 Miami Beach, FL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Jerry Black Unanimous Decision Unknown 1960-04-25 Philadelphia, PA none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Lose Ralph Dupas Unanimous Decision Unknown 1960-01-13 Mobile, AL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Ray Lancaster KO Unknown 1959-12-29 Minneapolis, MN none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Virgil Akins MD Unknown 1959-10-28 Washington DC none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Lose Carlos Ortiz TKO Unknown 1959-06-12 New York City, NY World Light Welterweight Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Johnny Busso TKO Unknown 1959-04-17 Hollywood, CA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Carlos Ortiz MD Unknown 1958-12-31 Miami Beach, FL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Lahouari Godih Split Decision Unknown 1958-11-07 Syracuse, NY none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Orlando Zulueta Unanimous Decision Unknown 1958-09-06 Muskegon, MI none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Lose Joe Brown Unanimous Decision Unknown 1958-07-23 Houston, TX World Lightweight Title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Davey Dupas KO Unknown 1958-05-26 Dallas, TX none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Johnny Gonsalves Unanimous Decision Unknown 1958-01-09 Oakland, CA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Luke Easter TKO Unknown 1957-12-09 San Francisco, CA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Orlando Zulueta Unanimous Decision Unknown 1957-10-30 Chicago, IL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Johnny Gonsalves Unanimous Decision Unknown 1957-08-20 Oakland, CA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Teddy Davis Unanimous Decision Unknown 1957-08-03 Muskegon, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Henry Brown KO Unknown 1957-05-22 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Danny Davis TKO Unknown 1957-04-06 Muskegon, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Frankie Ryff TKO Unknown 1957-01-30 Norfolk, VA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Frankie Ryff Unanimous Decision Unknown 1956-11-14 Miami, FL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Ludwig Lightburn Unanimous Decision Unknown 1956-09-19 Miami, FL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Ralph Capone TKO Unknown 1956-08-30 Muskegon, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Glen Flanagan Unanimous Decision Unknown 1956-08-02 Minneapolis, MN none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Ralph Dupas Split Decision Unknown 1956-07-09 New Orleans, LA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Danny Davis Unanimous Decision Unknown 1956-05-10 Minneapolis, MN none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Enrique Esqueda PTS Unknown 1956-03-25 Mexico City, Mexico none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Ike Vaughn PTS Unknown 1956-02-25 Lansing, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Don Mason Unanimous Decision Unknown 1955-12-06 Milwaukee, WI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Kid Centella Unanimous Decision Unknown 1955-11-07 New Orleans, LA none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Lose Paddy DeMarco Split Decision Unknown 1955-10-03 New York City, NY none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Hocine Khalfi Unanimous Decision Unknown 1955-08-16 Miami Beach, FL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Noel Humphreys PTS Unknown 1955-08-03 Mt. Pleasant, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Elmer Lakatos TKO Unknown 1955-07-28 Milwaukee, WI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Jimmy Ford Unanimous Decision Unknown 1955-07-12 Miami Beach, FL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Richie Howard PTS Unknown 1955-06-28 Nova Scotia, Canada none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Larry Boardman Unanimous Decision Unknown 1955-06-21 Miami Beach, FL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Eli Leggett Unanimous Decision Unknown 1955-06-07 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Richie Howard PTS Unknown 1955-05-30 Nova Scotia, Canada none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Armand Savoie Unanimous Decision Unknown 1955-03-29 Grand Rapids, MI none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Lose Ralph Dupas Split Decision Unknown 1955-03-14 New Orleans, LA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Jackie Blair Unanimous Decision Unknown 1955-02-14 New York City, NY none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Danny Jo Perez Split Decision Unknown 1954-12-13 New York City, NY none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Orlando Zulueta Split Decision Unknown 1954-11-08 New York City, NY none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win George Collins PTS Unknown 1954-10-04 New York City, NY none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win John Barnes PTS Unknown 1954-08-12 Muskegon, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Elmer Lakatos PTS Unknown 1954-06-22 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Sammy Rodgers PTS Unknown 1954-05-27 Muskegon, MI none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Lose John Barnes PTS Unknown 1954-03-22 Detroit, MI none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Lose John Barnes TKO Unknown 1954-02-01 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Jesse Underwood PTS Unknown 1954-01-14 Saginaw, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Mike Tourcotte PTS Unknown 1954-01-02 New Orleans, LA none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Ronnie Stribling Unanimous Decision Unknown 1953-12-01 Grand Rapids, MI none
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Lose Ronnie Stribling KO Unknown 1953-10-20 Lansing, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Ken Hohner PTS Unknown 1953-09-29 Grand Rapids, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Ralph Cervantes Unanimous Decision Unknown 1953-09-14 Saginaw, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Eddie Crawford PTS Unknown 1953-09-10 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Don Grinton KO Unknown 1953-08-20 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Dick Holling KO Unknown 1953-08-06 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Ron McGilvery PTS Unknown 1953-07-23 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Frank O'Neal KO Unknown 1953-07-16 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Johnny Valentine PTS Unknown 1953-06-18 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Benny Uhl PTS Unknown 1953-06-15 Chicago, IL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Milton Scott PTS Unknown 1953-05-23 Chicago, IL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win John Walls PTS Unknown 1953-05-11 Chicago, IL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Jimmy DeMura PTS Unknown 1953-04-30 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Bob Henry KO Unknown 1953-04-20 Chicago, IL none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Jimmy DeMura PTS Unknown 1953-04-16 Detroit, MI none
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win Clinton McDade PTS Unknown 1953-04-09 Grand Rapids, MI none

References and notes

  1. ↑ http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Pearce_Lane
  2. ↑ http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Human:12665
  3. ↑ http://www.mlive.com/boxing/index.ssf/2008/08/former_muskegon_boxer_lane_die.html
  4. ↑ http://www.broowaha.com/article.php?id=3872
  5. ↑ http://forums.morrissey-solo.com/showthread.php?t=66846
  6. ↑ http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/lane-k.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/cbzforum/archive/index.php/t-7832.html
  8. ↑ Lane stats at BoxRec.com

External links

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