Kendall Holt

Kendall Holt, known as Rated R, is a retired American professional boxer who fought in the light welterweight division from 2001 to 2013. Throughout his career, he fought 34 fights, winning 28 and losing 6 bouts. He had a remarkable knockout record, winning 16 fights via KO. Born on June 14th, 1981, in Paterson, New Jersey, Kendall Holt was 5'9" in height and had a reach of 74". Holt was an orthodox fighter and fought his last fight on February 22, 2013.

Holt's professional career spanned over 11 years, during which he rose to fame at a young age. He won his debut fight against Frank Zorchak via first-round KO at 19 years old. Holt earned the reputation of a rising prospect after he viciously knocked out Gilberto Reyes on March 26, 2004. His left hook counter froze Reyes for a split second before he came crashing down to the canvas. He went on to secure 14 more consecutive wins, out of which ten were via stoppage. The series of wins earned Holt a place among the top-ranking prospects in the welterweight division.

Holt's winning streak was cut short when he faced Thomas Davis on June 18, 2004, in a match held at the DePaul Athletic Center in Chicago, Illinois. Davis dropped Holt to the canvas with a straight right hand, the first time Holt was knocked down in his professional career. Holt got up, but the Davis onslaught that ensued left Holt on unsteady legs. The fight was stopped as Holt went down again, this time for good, in the first round.

Two fights later, Holt fought David Díaz, a 1996 US Olympian in February 2005, where he knocked out Díaz with a whip-like left hook to the head. In the same year, Holt defeated Jaime Rangel in a split decision victory to win the vacant WBO Intercontinental light welterweight title. He won the WBO NABO light welterweight title in an ESPN televised match against Isaac Hlatshwayo in November 2006. He retained the title box title by unanimous decision when he fought Mike Arnaoutis, the WBO light welterweight title eliminator in April 2007.

Later that year, Holt fought Ricardo Torres in a highly controversial fight for the WBO Junior Welterweight title on September 1, 2007. The fight took place at the Estadio Romelio Martínez in Barranquilla, Colombia, Torres' hometown. Holt was leading on the scorecards, but Torres knocked him out with a vicious left hook in the eleventh round. Holt claimed that he was hit in the head by loaded beer cans during the fight and that someone from Torres' corner grabbed his leg. The decision sparked protests, and Holt appealed. Though WBO denied Holt's request to reverse the loss, he was ranked highly in the rankings.

In his first fight following the highly controversial loss to Torres, Holt fought Ben Tackie and won by majority decision. He then fought Torres in a rematch that lasted only 61 seconds, where Holt knocked out Torres with a left hook immediately after an accidental clash of heads. Holt won his first and only world boxing title after defeating WBC super lightweight champion Timothy Bradley on April 4, 2009, by unanimous decision. Holt lost his WBO title in the match, which took place in Montreal's Bell Centre.

Holt's professional boxing career culminated in his defeat by Lamont Peterson via 8th round TKO in a fight that took place on February 22, 2013. Holt retired from professional boxing with a record of 28 wins, 6 losses, and 16 KO wins.

Holt's boxing style was unique and multifaceted, making him difficult to box against. He preferred to use his long reach and quick footwork to his advantage, allowing him to move in and out of range quickly. When he got within range of his opponents, he would unleash combination punches that were both powerful and fast. Holt also had an excellent counter punch and would often use his left hook to set up a powerful right cross. His reflexes, agility, and footwork were uncanny, enabling Holt to evade incoming punches and slip past the blindside of his opponents.

After retiring in 2013, Holt remained active in the boxing community, working as a trainer and a boxing commentator for various networks. Although retired, he still has an immense following, owing to his performances in some of the most controversial and memorable matches of recent times.

To conclude, Kendall Holt was a formidable boxer in the light welterweight division whose talents, speed, and agility we may never see the likes of again. Though he only won one world title, his record of 28-6 speaks volumes about his fighting style and the challenges he faced in his boxing career.

Kendall Holt Fight Record