Kenny Lane (April 9, 1932 – August 5, 2008) was an American southpaw (left-handed) boxer. He fought for lightweight and light welterweight titles of the world, once against Joe Brown and twice against Carlos Ortiz.
Early life Lane was raised on a farm in Big Rapids, Michigan with his four brothers and sister. According to his family, he regularly fought 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.
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.
Quote from Ortiz: "No one was more difficult to figure out than Kenny Lane, the guy was unbelievably clever"
He had a controversial decision loss to Joe Brown for undisputed lightweight championship of the world. He fought the Ortiz rubber match for light welterweight title.
Lane decided at age 50 to round out his professional career to 100 bouts. He dropped to his fighting weight from almost 200 pounds. After beating 3 much younger opponents he lost to the fourth. Lane decided to retire for the final time, making the even 100 bouts he sought.
Family life Lane married his wife Ruth as a teenager in West Virginia. They had 4 children.
Later years After retiring Lane continued teaching boxing in the Muskegon area. He ran the boxing program at the Muskegon Area Boxing Club.
In 1995, British singer Morrissey released an album called Southpaw Grammar. The cover featured an old photograph of Lane from the April 1963 issue of The Ring magazine.
Lane was admitted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.
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, alongside one of his most well known students, Christian Lloyd in Lansing, Michigan.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateAgeLocationNotes100Loss Dave GuerraSD8Nov 2, 198399Win82–15–2 Willie McIntoshKO8 (8)Jun 18, 198398Win81–15–2 Paul LewisKO2 (?)Apr 16, 198397Win80–15–2 Bobby PleggeUD8Jul 17, 198296Loss79–15–2 Eddie PerkinsUD12Oct 25, 196495Loss79–14–2 Carlos HernándezTKO2 (10)Oct 5, 196494Loss79–13–2 Dave CharnleyPTS10Jun 2, 196493Win79–12–2 Stoffel SteynRTD8 (10)May 9, 196492Loss78–12–2 Carlos OrtizUD15Apr 11, 196491Win78–11–2 Johnny BizzarroSD10Feb 19, 196490Win77–11–2 Paul ArmsteadUD15Aug 19, 196389Win76–11–2 Vicente DeradoUD10Mar 2, 196388Win75–11–2 Len MatthewsTKO9 (10), Sep 15, 196287Win74–11–2 Carlos HernándezUD10Jul 14, 196286Win73–11–2 Tommy TibbsUD10Jun 11, 196285Win72–11–2 Luis MolinaUD10Apr 14, 196284Loss71–11–2 Garland 'Rip' RandallUD10Jan 23, 196283Win71–10–2 Aissa HashasPTS10Oct 16, 196182Win70–10–2 Virgil AkinsUD10Sep 22, 196181Win69–10–2 Garland 'Rip' RandallUD10Aug 30, 196180Win68–10–2 T.J. JonesUD10Aug 14, 196179Win67–10–2 Willie RobertsonUD6Jun 30, 196178Win66–10–2 Ray PortillaTKO6 (10)Jun 16, 196177Draw65–10–2 Curtis CokesSD10Jun 8, 196176Win65–10–1 Manuel GonzalezUD10May 16, 196175Win64–10–1 Garland 'Rip' RandallUD10May 1, 196174Draw63–10–1 Carlos HernándezPTS10Feb 20, 196173Loss63–10 Jose StableUD10Jan 23, 196172Win63–9 Lahouari GodihMD10Dec 6, 196071Loss62–9 Len MatthewsTKO3 (10), Oct 8, 196070Win62–8 Sidney AdamsTKO1 (10), Sep 27, 196069Win61–8 Douglas VaillantUD10Aug 16, 196068Win60–8 Jerry BlackUD10Apr 25, 196067Loss59–8 Ralph DupasUD10Jan 13, 196066Win59–7 Ray LancasterKO3 (10), Dec 29, 195965Win58–7 Virgil AkinsMD10Oct 28, 195964Loss57–7 Carlos OrtizTKO2 (15)Jun 12, 195963Win57–6 Johnny BussoTKO6 (10)Apr 17, 195962Win56–6 Carlos OrtizMD10Dec 31, 195861Win55–6 Lahouari GodihSD10Nov 7, 195860Win54–6 Orlando ZuluetaUD10Sep 6, 195859Loss53–6 Joe BrownUD15Jul 23, 195858Win53–5 Davey DupasKO6 (10), May 26, 195857Win52–5 Johnny GonsalvesUD10Jan 9, 195856Win51–5 Luke EasterTKO8 (10), Dec 9, 195755Win50–5 Orlando ZuluetaUD10Oct 30, 195754Win49–5 Johnny GonsalvesUD10Aug 20, 195753Win48–5 Teddy DavisUD10Aug 3, 195752Win47–5 Henry 'Toothpick' BrownKO6 (10), May 22, 195751Win46–5 Danny DavisTKO4 (10)Apr 6, 195750Win45–5 Frankie RyffTKO6 (10), Jan 30, 195749Win44–5 Frankie RyffUD10Nov 14, 195648Win43–5 Ludwig LightburnUD10Sep 19, 195647Win42–5 Ralph CaponeTKO5 (10), Aug 30, 195646Win41–5 Glen FlanaganUD10Aug 2, 195645Win40–5 Ralph DupasSD10Jul 9, 195644Win39–5 Danny DavisUD10May 10, 195643Win38–5 Enrique EsquedaUD10Mar 25, 195642Win37–5 Ike VaughnUD10Feb 25, 195641Win36–5 Don MasonUD10Dec 6, 195540Win35–5 Kid CentellaUD10Nov 7, 195539Loss34–5 Paddy DeMarcoSD10Oct 3, 195538Win34–4 Hocine KhalfiUD10Aug 16, 195537Win33–4 Noel HumphreysUD10Aug 4, 195536Win32–4 Elmer LakatosTKO8 (10)Jul 28, 195535Win31–4 Jimmy FordUD10Jul 12, 195534Win30–4 Richie HowardUD10Jun 28, 195533Win29–4 Larry BoardmanUD10Jun 21, 195532Win28–4 Eli LeggettUD10Jun 7, 195531Win27–4 Richie HowardPTS10May 30, 195530Win26–4 Armand SavoieUD10Mar 29, 195529Loss25–4 Ralph DupasSD10Mar 14, 195528Win25–3 Jackie BlairUD10Feb 14, 195527Win24–3 Danny Jo PerezSD10Dec 13, 195426Win23–3 Orlando ZuluetaSD10Nov 8, 195425Win22–3 George CollinsPTS10Oct 4, 195424Win21–3 John BarnesUD10Aug 12, 195423Win20–3 Elmer LakatosUD8Jun 22, 195422Win19–3 Sammy RodgersUD10May 27, 195421Loss18–3 John BarnesUD8Mar 22, 195420Loss18–2 John BarnesTKO1 (8), Feb 1, 195419Win18–1 Jesse UnderwoodUD10Jan 14, 195418Win17–1 Mike TourcotteUD6Jan 2, 195417Win16–1 Ronnie StriblingUD8Dec 1, 195316Loss15–1 Ronnie StriblingTKO2 (8)Oct 20, 195315Win15–0 Ken HohnerUD8Sep 29, 195314Win14–0 Ralph CervantesUD6Sep 14, 195313Win13–0 Eddie CrawfordMD6Sep 10, 195312Win12–0 Don GrintonTKO3 (6), Aug 20, 195311Win11–0 Dick HollingKO2 (4)Aug 6, 195310Win10–0 Ron McGilvrayPTS4Jul 23, 19539Win9–0 Frank O'NealTKO3 (4)Jul 16, 19538Win8–0 Johnny ValentineSD4Jun 18, 19537Win7–0 Benny UhlPTS5Jun 15, 19536Win6–0 Milton ScottPTS4May 23, 19535Win5–0 Jimmy DeMuraPTS4May 11, 19534Win4–0 Jimmy DeMuraPTS4Apr 30, 19533Win3–0 Bob HenryKO4 (4)Apr 20, 19532Win2–0 Jimmy DeMuraPTS4Apr 16, 19531Win1–0 Clinton McDadePTS4Apr 9, 1953
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