The Flushing Flash returns

By Paul Upham: Former WBC featherweight champion Kevin The Flushing Flash Kelley, 51-5-2 (34), returns to the ring when he faces Mexican Raul Franco, 23-15-2 (18), over 10 rounds at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower in Las Vegas on April 27, headlining a card promoted by Roy Jones Jr’s Square Ring Inc.
I’m active. I just haven’t been active, said Kelley, who last fought in September 2000, when he was stopped in the seventh round by Erik Morales. It’s been a year-and-a-half since I’ve been out. I was training Dawn Reynolds (bantamweight, 3-0) and commentating at the same time. I just took a break, took a step back from boxing. Re-evaluate my life and see if I wanted to continue boxing or not.

The former WBC and WBU featherweight champion has a new goal and wants to become a three-time world champion. I felt that I could box again if I organise it. I had to put a time schedule on it, how long I’m going to do it, how many fights I wanted and put a goal in front of me. My goal is to become a three-time world champion and then retire, said Kelley.

I enjoyed my break. I liked the commentary. I found I survived without boxing for a change and it was different. I found out where I want to be. In the future I would like a nice commentary contract, just relax, travel and do what I know best. Talk about boxing.

While the biggest decision for Kelley was deciding to fight again, one as equally hard was coming to terms with the fact that he could no longer make the featherweight limit of 126lbs. I’m a junior lightweight now. There were a few decisions I had to make and one of those was that I had to move up in weight. I had been at featherweight so long, I was kind of getting stuck at trying to make a weight my body was not at no more, said Kelley.

Looking back at his loss to Morales in a fight that was for the interim WBC featherweight title, Kelley realises that in striving to make the featherweight limit, it made it almost impossible for him to fight the Mexican at the elite physical level he needed to win.

I look back and I should not have been a featherweight, he said. I had to lose 11 pounds 10 days before the fight, which was not good for my body. When I was 21, 22 it was okay for my body. I could have done it without any repercussions to my body.

Will the Flushing Flash be stronger with the extra four pounds?

Not stronger, I think I’ll be a more consummate professional. Before I was fading a little bit because I was trying to make a weight I couldn’t make any more. I think at 130 I can keep my strength a lot longer, said Kelley.

I can’t wait. I’ve been training for two months. I’ve been sparring with Wayne McCullough, so my preparation is really good for the fight. I like to train and I like to be in the gym. I was training Dawn (Reynolds), so I wasn’t just training her, I was training myself.

The 34-year-old Kelley says the fans will see many of the same old Flushing Flash at junior lightweight, with a few new tricks that he has learned along the way.

I have learned a few things. I have learned to accept my age. I’m getting older. I’m wiser now and I learned how to box a little more efficiently. I’ve got movement and blocks and I don’t have to throw punches all the time. I’ve learnt to work with myself. Work with what is on the table, rather than keep looking and trying to be the old Kevin, he said.

Kelley recognises that every fighter who steps into the ring with him will lift to try and beat the former world champion. He is ready for the any challenge and feels that the junior lightweight division has no dominant title-holder now that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has moved up to lightweight.

Any guy who fights me is coming to beat me, said Kelley. The fear that I brought to the featherweight division, I’m bringing it to the junior lightweight division, the same fear. I’m a southpaw that can punch. It’s a new day and there is a new sheriff back in town at 130. Mayweather moved up and I think the junior lightweight division is wide open.

What about WBO/WBA champion Acelino Freitas?

I think Freitas is a limited fighter. He is a great puncher, but he is limited, said Kelley.

While Kelley would welcome a shot at the hard-punching Brazilian, a clash with IBF champion Stevie Forbes, 20-1 (5), may be more likely.

Stevie and I are talking, we are friends. We talked bout hooking up some time this year if it is possible. I’ve sparred with Stevie so I know all about him, said Kelley. We are good friends, but we are competitive. I am in the division now and I won’t back down from fighting him. I told him it could be a very beneficial fight for both of us. He needs someone that can get him on HBO. I can do that. He has a title that I want. The fight could definitely happen.

In the co-feature on the April 27 card, Emmett "Laser" Linton, 28-3-1 (13)m faces Rene Herrera, 25-13 (17), at junior middleweight over 10 rounds.

Also, Wendy Rodriguez, 7-1-3 (1), vs. Delia Gonzalez, 11-6-3 (3), in a women’s bout at flyweight, Kendrick Releford, 5-0 (4), vs. Jon Williams, 4-3-1 (3), at cruiserweight and lightweight Lemuel Nelson, 22-5-1 (11), heavyweight Gabe Brown, 11-2 (7), and super-middleweight John McKinney, 7-0 (5), in separate bouts. The action gets under way at 7.30pm

This event will be one of the "Roy Jones Jr. Presents" series and televised on the Madison Square Garden Network, the Sunshine Network, ACSN and Comcast SportsNet on tape delay.

While many people may have thought he had retired, Kelley had never spoken the word and has been enjoying a break towards the end of a career that started way back in September 1988. He fought current or former world champions Erik Morales, Derrick Gainer (twice), Naseem Hamed, Jesus Salud, Louis Espinoza, Bones Adams, Alejandro Gonzalez, Goyo Vargas and Troy Dorsey, but wants another shot at a title.

The story is not complete for Kelley who wants to end his career on his own terms. Something that very few in boxing ever do.

I know in my heart that I can be a three-time world champion, he said. After not being champion for a while, I feel I can come back and win another title and then retire and that’s what I am going to do. I call it my exit. I want to get out on my terms, not on the terms boxing gives me.


Paul Upham
Contributing Editor