Barrera Stops Kelley in Fourth

On second thought, maybe broadcasting is a better option.

It has been 2 1/2 years since featherweight Kevin Kelley has faced a major opponent, spending most of his ring time behind a microphone as a commentator.

At 35, the former World Boxing Council featherweight champion had thoughts of recapturing his past glory. But it took less than one round Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for Marco Antonio Barrera to snap Kelley back to reality in front of a crowd of 4,912.

Barrera (57-3, 40 knockouts) put Kelley (54-6-2, 36) down with a combination in the first round, and knocked him down twice more in the fourth before referee Robert Byrd wisely stepped in and stopped the mismatch at the 1:32 mark of that round.

“I figured I had him in the first round when he went down,” Barrera said through a translator. “I think the body punches are what finished him.”

Said Kelley, “As a commentator, I have said that it’s hard for a fighter to come back after a first-round knockout and I guess I proved that tonight.”

After the second knockdown in the fourth, Kelley lay on his stomach and stared at his corner as if to appeal for his handlers to stop the match. Instead it was left to Byrd to take the initiative when Kelley, upon rising to his feet, offered no resistance.

In the punches-connected category, Barrera had an 85-16 advantage.

After the fight, Barrera said he would be interested in a third match with Erik Morales. Barrera has won eight consecutive fights, including a close decision over Morales last year, since losing to Morales in 2,000 on a split decision.

As for Kelley, hopefully that seat behind the microphone looks more appealing than ever.

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Derrick Gainer (39-5, 24) is the defending World Boxing Assn. featherweight champion, he was a 6-1 favorite over challenger Oscar Leon (23-3, 16) in Saturday’s night semi-main event and Gainer knocked Leon down twice.

Yet because of Leon’s aggressiveness, energy and nonstop attack, Gainer barely defended his crown, winning by split decision. Judges Silvestre Abainza (117-110) and Duane Ford (114-112) gave the fight to Gainer. Carol Castellano had Leon winning, 114-112.