Sports
Hilmer Kenty
born 1955 · boxer, WBA lightweight champion
The Kronk Gym's first world champion, who won the WBA lightweight title at Joe Louis Arena in 1980, Detroit's first world champion since Joe Louis.
- Born
Austin, Texas
age 71- Birth name
- James Kenty
- Detroit years
- late 1970s–1980s, 2020s
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Kenty was born in Texas and grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where he became one of the best amateur lightweights in the country, named the nation's top amateur at 135 pounds in 1973. He came to Detroit to fight for Emanuel Steward at the Kronk Recreation Center and turned professional under him. On March 2, 1980, a five-to-one underdog with only sixteen pro bouts behind him, he stopped Ernesto España in the ninth round at the brand-new Joe Louis Arena to win the WBA lightweight title. He was Steward's first world champion and the first world champion from Detroit since Joe Louis, and his win opened the Kronk era that Thomas Hearns continued a few months later. Kenty made three defenses before losing the belt to Sean O'Grady in 1981. He remains tied to Kronk and joined the leadership group behind the gym's 2025 return to the Brewster–Wheeler Recreation Center.
Highlights
- WBA lightweight champion 1980–1981
- First world champion produced by the Kronk Gym and Emanuel Steward
- Won his title at Joe Louis Arena on March 2, 1980
- Named the top US amateur lightweight in 1973
- Part of the team behind Kronk's 2025 revival in Detroit
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 3
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 1980
Joe Louis Arena
Demolished · 1979–2017
Where he beat Ernesto España for the WBA lightweight title, a few months after the arena opened.
Played here · late 1970s–1980s
Kronk Gym (original, Kronk Recreation Center)
Demolished · 1921–2006
Emanuel Steward's basement gym, where Kenty trained; demolished in 2018.
Worked here · 2025–
Kronk Gym at Brewster–Wheeler Recreation Center
The revived Kronk Gym in Joe Louis's old recreation center; Kenty is part of its leadership group.