Justin Hackman: Kenny, let’s start with how you came into the sport of boxing.

Kenny Chevalier: Well I was stricken with polio when I was young. It affected the use of my left arm, right leg and back. So I was in a handicap school up until the third grade. But I wanted to get into sports at my boys club and tried out boxing around 9 or 10. At that time, the circuit I was in, you fought once per year in an annual tournament. I tried that, and I lost. I tried it again the next year, I lost again. But I wanted to continue to fight on. I lived in Kitland, Maryland, and if I wanted to find other ways to fight, I had to go to the neighboring town which was Palmer Park. I had to walk through the woods to another neighborhood, getting jumped or having to fight other kids just on my journey alone. So I was definitely determined to not only fight, but to win. I trained under Mr. David Jacobs and I finally won my first fight with him. I then went on to win Junior Golden Gloves and other various tournaments. Eventually though I had to retire my hopes of being a fighter because I had my thigh bone taken out as a result of the polio virus. Later on down the line, I began refereeing amateur boxing in the mid 1990s. Then in 1996, the pros pulled me over to their side. My first title bout was a William Joppy [former middleweight title holder] fight. And have since gone on to do many more title fights from there.

JH: When you expressed an interest in boxing, were your parents concerned?

KC: My mother did not want me to do it; she was very worried. But I wouldn’t back down. “I want to do it,” I said. “I need to be out there with other guys; I wanna be normal.” So she allowed me to do it at that point, black eyes and everything. But when I went to Palmer Park tournaments and started winning, it was something special. It was a breakthrough for me and that’s why I give back to special needs people. The life I’ve lived can be inspiration to them. If I can, you can. I want to instill that mindset in everyone who faces the adversity that comes with a disability.

JH: It seems like you have an incredible drive to succeed - someone that doesn’t back down from a challenge, is that accurate?

KC: That’s accurate. I made my living as a union electrician. There was nothing easy about going through the trade with one (working) arm, carrying things, having to keep up with the clock, with other guys, etc. I had to make a living regardless so I did that for 33 years. I’ve taken on challenges my whole life. It’s all worthwhile because I felt rejuvenated by it, inspired by it, that I’ve accomplished something great. It’s horrible to be kicked to the curb and not even given a chance, so these are things I hope to pass on to be constantly serving, and always giving back, or else these accomplishments are really worth nothing.

JH: Give me an idea of your journey: from diagnosis to where you stand now.

KC: Well, I contracted the virus when I was just two years old. I remember not being able to move at all, just limp. I spent a few years in hospital care. At that time, polio was running rampant. The vaccine didn’t come out until 1961, and I was diagnosed in 1960. I remember doing a lot of rehabbing in the hospital. I was in a brace and in a wheelchair, and I remember getting to a point where I was then walking around, but still with a brace. The thing with polio is that it takes your muscles completely away…(getting emotional)…I hate to think about it. I don’t have any muscles in my left arm, my right leg, or my back.

JH: I think it’s an amazing thing what you’ve overcome.

KC: I just roll with the punches.

JH: You strike me as someone who accepts challenges and beats them. Which leads me to my next question: knowing what you’ve accomplished, where you’ve been and where you are now, and knowing you were one year away from not having polio at all, would you change anything?

KC: No. Because every struggle has benefited me and it will benefit others. The places I’ve been, the traveling I’ve done, the fights I have worked all around the world, I wouldn’t have experienced that had it not been for the exact path that I took. And because of that, I experienced the thrill of victory. And I always aim to use that in helping others and inspiring special needs individuals to thrive. It’s been a special journey.

JH: What has been the most exciting fight for you as the ref?

KC: Quite a few. There was one that stands out because of the rivalry: Reggie Green and Sharmba Mitchell. Both had titles and it was a hometown rivalry. They went to war that night. So that one sticks out in my head. One of the toughest fights I’ve done is Bernard Hopkins vs Andrew Council. That was big one in its own right because it was one of the biggest names to come in the area.

JH: Anything else you’d like to say to the readers at Boxingtalk.com?

KC: I believe that boxing fans are the smartest of any sport by far. To me, the order of merit in boxing goes: fighters, then it goes to the fans from there, and after them come cornermen and everyone else. But it’s the fans that rule and they should be given the best. That’s why I do what I do: it’s first for the fighters, and then it’s for the fans. You all are amazing, and definitely the smartest of the bunch.

JH: It’s been a pleasure, Kenny. Let’s talk again soon.

KC: Absolutely. Thank you so much.

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