Len Kesey was a successful high school and amateur boxer, who later became a professional boxer. Len said later that boxing was a way he connected with his father, who bought him a pair of gloves when Len was 4. His father became a frequent sparring partner. His father died of a brain aneurysm, when Len was 15-years-old. After that, Len's mother moved the family from California to Eugene, where Len attended high school and established himself as one of the top amateur fighters in region. He won the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Golden Gloves title in 1963 and turned pro later that year, becoming a fixture in fights at the Lane County Fairgrounds and the Portland Armory.
Kesey eventually found a manager and expanded beyond the Northwest. He landed fights against Mando Ramos, Teo Cruz and Rene Barrientos, all junior lightweight world champions. His loss to Ramos was as close as he would come to fighting for a title belt.
Kesey eventually found a manager and expanded beyond the Northwest. He landed fights against Mando Ramos, Teo Cruz and Rene Barrientos, all junior lightweight world champions. His loss to Ramos was as close as he would come to fighting for a title belt.
Len Kesey was a successful high school and amateur boxer, who later became a professional boxer. Len said later that boxing was a way he connected with his father, who bought him a pair of gloves when Len was 4. His father became a frequent sparring partner. His father died of a brain aneurysm, when Len was 15-years-old. After that, Len's mother moved the family from California to Eugene, where Len attended high school and established himself as one of the top amateur fighters in region. He won the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Golden Gloves title in 1963 and turned pro later that year, becoming a fixture in fights at the Lane County Fairgrounds and the Portland Armory.
Kesey eventually found a manager and expanded beyond the Northwest. He landed fights against Mando Ramos, Teo Cruz and Rene Barrientos, all junior lightweight world champions. His loss to Ramos was as close as he would come to fighting for a title belt.
Kesey eventually found a manager and expanded beyond the Northwest. He landed fights against Mando Ramos, Teo Cruz and Rene Barrientos, all junior lightweight world champions. His loss to Ramos was as close as he would come to fighting for a title belt.
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