"Everything is different. Time just changes things and that's the way it is. I think a lot of these kids are fighting...see, they see Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao making all of that money and they are trying to adapt to their style of boxing...we're not going to have too many great fighters. It takes a lot to become a great fighter, and it takes more discipline than anything and a lot of these kids, they don't have it. I don't know what it is. There are too many distractions these days. Everybody wants to be a rapper. If you got any gift of gab, you want to be a rapper," stated former super bantamweight champion Kennedy McKinney, who talked about how different fighters are today and much more. Check it out!
PC: How have you been man?
KM: I'm doing pretty good. How you doing?
PC: I can't complain my man. Are you still here in Louisiana training fighters?
KM: Yeah, I'm still down here. As a matter of fact, I just got back from New York with a fighter.
PC: What is your stable of fighters looking like?
KM: Well, right now, my stable's not looking too good. We just lost this last fight. It was a disappointment, but there is nothing I can really do about that. We just gotta work harder and keep my guys in the gym. The more we stay in the gym, the better we get.
PC: A lot of old school guys I talk to say it's tough to train these guys because they don't have that drive that guys like yourself had. Do you find it difficult to work with guys because of that?
KM: Yeah, it's very tough because being down here, I can't really move a kid away from his family. They don't know how to discipline them and stuff as far as staying away from the women. That's basically the biggest problem I got; my fighters staying away from those girls. They don't really stay away. They don't do it. It's hard to do it down here.
PC: Yeah, there are a ton of different things out there now to deal with, especially with some of these guys who are teenagers trying to get into boxing; things that your trainer probably didn't have to deal with, you know?
KM: Correct. I got a lot of my discipline from the military. I boxed before I went to the military. I boxed from 7th grade all the way through high school, and then right after high school, I joined the military. When I got in the military, I found out they had a boxing team and I got on it. The discipline that the military gave me is what these kids nowadays are lacking. They lack discipline and it's hard to give them discipline when you can't put them in the exact environment that you need them in. It's kinda hard and there is a thin line you gotta walk.
PC: Do you see any fighters that remind you of yourself a little bit?
KM: No. I don't really watch boxing that much. I only watch the big money fights, like Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. But these other lil' guys coming up, I don't really have time to watch a lot of boxing. I don't know anybody coming up that fights the way that I fought. I don't really see too many little guys like that.
PC: Yeah, it was a different day when you fought.
KM: It was a different day. Everything is different. Time just changes things and that's the way it is. I think a lot of these kids are fighting...see, they see Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao making all of that money and they are trying to adapt to their style of boxing. Floyd Mayweather is not a pure boxer. I'm just saying he's got quick hands and he counters a lot, but being a pure boxer, he don't really jab a lot. He's just a counter puncher. He moves his head good. He's got good defense and he's quick. He can beat a lot of guys like that and that's what he's done.
PC: It's hard for kids today to copy that style because Floyd was taught that style from a very young age, so he grew up fighting like that.
KM: True dat. He started off at a young age and until you get kids like that, we're not going to have too many great fighters. It takes a lot to become a great fighter, and it takes more discipline than anything and a lot of these kids, they don't have it. I don't know what it is. There are too many distractions these days. Everybody wants to be a rapper. If you got any gift of gab, you want to be a rapper (laughing).
PC: Who were some of the fighters you enjoyed watching my man?
KM: I enjoyed Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Those were some real fighters. They would fight. They didn't hide from each other. They wanted to make that money and so they fought each other. These kids nowadays, they won't do that. All of these champions won't do it.
PC: Do you think we will ever get the Pacquiao/Mayweather fight?
KM: I doubt it. Floyd is too picky and he wants all the money. He won't split the purse 50/50. Floyd wants 60/40 or 70/30. I mean, damn, give the people what they want! There is enough money for both of you guys to share it 50/50. What the fuck is the problem? You are already rich and a millionaire, man. I mean, you don't have to have all of the money. It's a political situation. Me personally, I think Floyd...and I know the kid. I know his uncle's Jeff and Roger and I know his dad. Floyd wants to retire undefeated and the only fight he won't do is Pacquiao. That's the fight that would make him. That would make him a great fighter to beat Manny Pacquiao. Until he steps up to the plate and makes the fight, I can't give him credit as a great fighter. He is a very good fighter, but fight the best out there. I didn't back down from anybody.
PC: It goes both ways though. I think at times, both fighters could have done more to make the fight and for whatever reason, it didn't happen.
KM: True dat. I mean, Manny needs him too. Manny needs to step up to the plate. As far as the talk man, everybody is talking about that fight and I got into it too. They are the best fighters in boxing and they make all of the money, so I think they definitely should be fighting each other.
PC: When did you get away from watching guys in your weight class?
KM: I stopped watching guys that was around my weight class fight because they are hardly ever on TV. The only fights on TV now usually feature Floyd or Pacquiao. HBO put on some fights, but I don't really get into it. I train fighters and I am interested in boxing, but I don't like to watch fighters that don't fight. these fuckers don't fight no more. They dance around and they pitty pat and they showboat and shuffle and drop they hands, but they ain't fucking fighting no more.
PC: It's great speaking to you again. I hope your fighters get back on the right track. Is there anything else you want to say before I let you go?
KM: I would like to tell you as a writer and encourage your other writers to write in to the Hall of Fame and ask them what are they waiting for. I should be in the Hall of Fame. Michael Carbajal is in there already. Mike Tyson went in. I should be next and in the next group.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]