McKinney Stops Zavala, Retains Crown

Former Olympic gold medalist Kennedy McKinney stopped challenger Rudy Zavala from Costa Mesa with three knockdowns in the third round Saturday and retained the International Boxing Federation junior-featherweight title.

McKinney overpowered Zavala with combination counterpunches from the opening bell, stopping him at 2 minutes 8 seconds of the third round in the scheduled 12-rounder.

McKinney, 23-0-1 with 15 knockouts, was making his second defense of the title he won last year with an 11-round knockout of Welcome Ncita.

Zavala, 21-2-2 with 17 knockouts, tried to bring the fight to McKinney and was punished with hard rights throughout.

“I knew he was going to come right at me, and that’s exactly what he did,” McKinney said. “I knew that was going to be his downfall because I know I can punch. By his coming in and my punch meeting his chin, it makes the punch that much heavier.”

The bout at the Memphis Pyramid was McKinney’s first as a professional in his hometown. He began his professional career in Las Vegas after winning an Olympic gold medal in 1988. He moved back to Memphis last December.

McKinney said he was hurt with two body shots, but Zavala’s other efforts were ineffective.

“But he was a good fighter,” McKinney said. “You can’t take nothing away from the guy. I was just the better man.”

In an earlier bout, junior-featherweight Jesus Salud, the IBF’s No. 1 contender, stopped Troy Fletcher at 2:37 of the first round to set up an expected meeting with McKinney in Memphis in September.