By Mike Sparks
Ken ‘The Bull’ Atkin: A Fighter Then, A Fighter Still
There was a time when Ken “The Bull” Atkin stepped into the ring as a man you simply could not overlook. Built with grit, toughness, and a fearless spirit, Atkin wasn’t just another name on a fight card. He was the kind of fighter who showed up to win, no matter who stood across from him.
Kerry Pharr has spent a lifetime in boxing gyms and locker rooms, but his real work has always been about more than the sport. As a trainer, Kerry guided fighters like Ken “The Bull” Atkin to championship-level competition, and today he carries that same drive into Club Knockout, where he reaches young people across Smyrna, La Vergne, and middle Tennessee.
I first met Kerry years ago when he owned Universal Health Spa in Nashville, off Murfreesboro Road. I was 18 years old at the time, and I remember seeing an ad, somewhere around $49 or $99 for a two year membership. My buddy Paul Ewing and I signed up on the spot, and it was the start of relationships that have lasted decades.
What sets Kerry apart isn’t just his eye for talent in the ring. It’s his heart for sharing Christ with everyone he meets. His boldness in reaching others is something every one of us could stand to learn from. Through In Your Corner, Kerry brings that same boldness to the community, standing beside young men and women the way a trainer stands beside a fighter between rounds, ready to encourage, correct, and push them toward something greater than themselves. Our world could certainly use a few more coaches and encouragers like Kerry Pharr.
“Ken Atkin was the most fearless boxer I ever worked with. He was unnaturally fearless and would fight man or beast. When Tommy Hearns and his entourage paraded around the ring trying to intimidate him, he looked at me and said, What! is that supposed to scare me. Then he chuckled. Absolutely fearless.”
— Kerry Pharr Manager/Trainer
The Night at Aloha Stadium
That reputation was on full display on May 4, 1991, when Atkin climbed into the ring at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu to face the legendary Thomas Hearns. The broadcast opened with a nod to Hearns’ recent trip to support U.S. troops stationed in Saudi Arabia, and the atmosphere at the stadium reflected it. The crowd was thick with U.S. military personnel, and a tribute segment ran early in the broadcast honoring Hearns’ commitment to the USO and his time spent with the troops.
“Ken Atkin lived up to his nickname while training for his WBO light heavyweight title fight”, says Danny Brewer, who covered many local boxing events for a variety of Tennessee publications during Atkin’s career. “He was so determined to make weight and he trained like a machine. When fight night arrived he charged into the ring like a Bull and trampled his opponent Carlos Cantù. It was great to see him raise the belt over his head and be rewarded for his commitment.” — Danny Brewer
Jimmy Lennon Jr. introduced dignitaries in the ring, including representatives from Naval Station Pearl Harbor and the USO, before the formal introductions of Ken Atkin and Thomas Hearns got the crowd on its feet.
When the bell rang, Hearns went to work early, establishing his jab while Atkin pressed forward and tried to work the body. By the second round, Hearns was already looking ahead, sharpening the strategy he’d carry into his upcoming fight against Virgil Hill. In the third round, Hearns found his range and landed a powerful left hook to the body that put Atkin in real trouble. With Atkin cut and bleeding, the ringside physician made the call, and the referee stopped the bout at 2:08 into the third round. Jimmy Lennon Jr. announced the stoppage, and Thomas Hearns was declared the winner.
Hearns thanked the crowd, thanked the military members in attendance, and in the interviews that followed talked about his performance and his plans for the fights ahead.
Though the fight ended in a TKO due to the cut, Hearns himself made clear what kind of man he’d just fought. In an article for the LA Times on April 8, 1991, Hearns said of Atkin, “Ken was a tough guy. He wasn’t afraid or intimidated by my stature.”
That tells you everything.
Earning Respect, One Round at a Time
Atkin didn’t just fight. He earned respect.
In 1993, he reached the pinnacle of his career, capturing the WBF Light Heavyweight Championship with a fifth round TKO over Carlos Cantu. It was a defining moment for a fighter who had paid his dues and proven he belonged among the best.
With a professional record of 30 wins, 5 losses, and 22 knockouts, Atkin built a reputation as a hard hitting, relentless competitor.
But boxing can be as unforgiving as it is rewarding.
In the spring of 1994, while preparing to defend his title in Ukraine, Atkin suffered a broken hand in an accident, an injury that forced him to retire and relinquish his championship. Just like that, a promising title run came to an unexpected end.
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