Atlantic City, NJ--Teon Kennedy, fighting for the first time in one year and moving up two weight classes, overcame a slow start to pound out a unanimous 10-round decision over game Carlos Vinan in front of 1,244 fans in the Grand Ballroom at Bally's Atlantic City.

 

Kennedy, 26, of Philadelphia, PA, worked Vinan's body late in the match and he scored the fight's only knockdown with less than 30 seconds to go in the 10th round.  Scores were 98-91 and 99-90 twice for Kennedy, making his first start since being stopped by Guillermo Rigondeaux, of Cuba, last year for the WBA super bantamweight title.

 

"I felt good at this weight," said Kennedy, who was 129.5 pounds.  "No more struggles."

Vinan, 33, of Newark, NJ, had some success early when both fighters stood toe-to-toe.  Midway through the fight, however, Kennedy (18-2-2, 7 K0s) found his rhythm and pulled away.

 

The loss drops Vinan to 10-10-5, 2 K0s.  He weighed 129.

 

In a sensational junior lightweight semifinal, Jason Sosa, 128, got up from a second-round knockdown to blast out Georgi Kevlishvili, of Philadelphia, at 2.21 of the fourth round of their scheduled eight-rounder.  Scores were 28-28 across the board at the time of the knockout.

 

In other fights:  Jesse Hart, 166.5 pounds, Philadelphia, KO'd Thomas Turner, 167, Caldwell, ID, at 2.15 of the first round, super middleweights; Ismael Garcia, 158.5, Millville, NJ, K0d Alando Swain, 163.8, Trenton, NJ, at 2.22 of the sixth round, middleweights; Anthony Burgin, 130, Philadelphia, won a unanimous four-round decision over Nuwan Jayakody, 127.5, Washington, DC, junior lightweights.  Scores were 39-37 and 40-36 twice for Burgin;  Sultahn Staton, 136, Philadelphia, K0d Sidell Blocker, 134, Atlantic City, NJ, at 2.59 of the first round, lightweights; Dante Selby, 219, Philadelphia, won a unanimous four-round decision over Dan Pasciolla, 236.5, Brick, NJ, heavyweights.  Scores were 40-36 and 39-37 twice for Selby.