Kenneth John W. "Kenny" Anderson (born 5 January 1983) is a
Scottish
Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including:
*Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland
*Scottish English
*Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...
former
professional boxer
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional fights are supervised by a regulatory auth ...
who competed from 2006 to 2012. At regional level, he held the Celtic
super middleweight
Super middleweight, or light cruiserweight, is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
In professional boxing, super middleweight is contested between the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, in which boxers can weigh between 160 pounds ( ...
title in 2009 and the British super middleweight title in 2012. As an amateur he won a gold medal at the
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games, officially the XVIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Melbourne 2006, were an International sport, international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth held in Melbourne ...
in the
light-heavyweight
Light heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
Professional
In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight (boxing), cruiserweight.
The light heavyweight class has ...
division.
Commonwealth Games
Hailing from
Craigmillar in Scotland, he defeated five boxers, stopping three of them on the way to winning gold at Melbourne 2006. Anderson stopped his first two opponents, the first in just 30 sec the fastest stoppage recorded in the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
In the semifinal he defeated Englishman
Tony Jeffries in what was billed as "The battle of Britain" Jeffries later won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics. After that bout Anderson spoke of his pride at being Scottish and how the win meant more as it was over an Englishman.
Anderson then fought Australian Ben McCraken the bout was stopped in the 2nd round on the 20-point rule, Anderson defeated
Adura Olalehin of Nigeria (23-19) in the final of the
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games, officially the XVIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Melbourne 2006, were an International sport, international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth held in Melbourne ...
. Anderson is the most successful amateur boxer bar Dick McTaggart MBE to come out of Scotland winning 8 international gold medals and a host of silver and bronze.
After those Games Anderson revealed he psyched himself up for his fights by watching
Braveheart
''Braveheart'' is a 1995 American epic film, epic historical drama, historical war drama film directed and produced by Mel Gibson, who portrays Scottish warrior William Wallace in the First War of Scottish Independence against Edward I of Engl ...
and reciting the
Haka
Haka (, ; singular ''haka'', in both Māori language, Māori and New Zealand English) are a variety of ceremonial dances in Māori culture. A performance art, hakas are often performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the f ...
, the traditional Māori war dance which is performed by the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team before matches. He also stated his desire to remain an amateur and fight for
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...
at the
2008 Olympic Games
The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and officially branded as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes fr ...
in
Beijing
Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
.
Professional career
Anderson turned pro in October 2006 and at present has a record of 19 fights 18 wins 13 by way of knockout. The sole loss came in a Commonwealth title fight which he had taken on 2 weeks notice against
George Groves. In October 2012, Anderson won the British
super middleweight
Super middleweight, or light cruiserweight, is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
In professional boxing, super middleweight is contested between the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, in which boxers can weigh between 160 pounds ( ...
title after stopping
Robin Reid inside five rounds.
Controversy
On 29 June 2009, Anderson appeared at
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Edinburgh Sheriff Court is a sheriff court in Chambers Street in Edinburgh, within the sheriffdom of Edinburgh and Borders.
History
Until the mid-1990s, hearings took place in the Justiciary Building, Edinburgh, Old Sheriff Court in the Lawnma ...
accused of attempted murder. It was alleged that Anderson had attacked a man in Edinburgh, punching him repeatedly in the head and striking him with a hammer. Anderson was found not guilty.
Personal life
His sister is Olympic basketballer,
Rose Anderson.
References
External links
Scotsman coverageof Kenny Anderson's triumph at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Kenny
1983 births
Living people
Super-middleweight boxers
Boxers from Edinburgh
Scottish male boxers
Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Scotland
Boxers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Medallists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
21st-century Scottish sportsmen
Commonwealth Games gold medallists in boxing