We said this would be Kendall Holt’s coming out party and that’s exactly what it was,” says promoter Dino Duva of his fighter Kendall Holt’s electrifying, nationally televised performance last Friday. Holt (21-1, 12 KOs) looked sensational in picking up the NABO Light Welterweight Title via unanimous 12-round decision over world-ranked and highly regarded South African Isaac Hlatshwayo on Showtime’s ShoBox “The New Generation” series.

 

Duva attributes Holt’s stellar performance (Hlatshwayo was down in the 9th, 11th and 12th rounds) to the much-improved level of maturity and dedication exhibited by the talented 25 year old. “We always knew Kendall had very special, God-given talents. Now Kendall is coming forward as an adult and as fighter,” he explains. “He went to training camp for this fight and kept to the game plan throughout, and it showed. When Kendall keeps himself focused like this, I believe he is the best junior welterweight in the world and what he did to Hlatshwayo is proof of that.”

 

Duva says he is prepared to call out any junior welterweight in the world for Holt, especially top contenders and world champions like England’s Ricky Hatton and IBF belt holder Juan Urango: “I’d put Kendall in with anybody. He’s that good. But he’s got something special for these guys that try to come forward with pressure. Not just Hlatshwayo, look what he did to David Diaz before that!” (Holt scored an impressive TKO 8 over Diaz in another nationally televised ShoBox appearance. Diaz, 32-1, is currently the WBC Interim Lightweight Champion.)

 

“The premium networks have got to get on the Kendall Holt bandwagon now,” continues Duva. “He’s fast, exciting, powerful, skilful, and dynamic. He’s the best fighter in the world at 140 lbs and he continues to prove it with every fight. It’s time to put him in a major fight on premium television and let him take his place among boxing’s elite. Holt is ready!”