Cal State East Bay University Athletics

Kenny Bayless earned track and field All-American honors in 1972, and was also a member of the Pioneer 4x400 relay team that set a new Division II record in 1972. He also competed in basketball at the varsity level at Cal State Hayward.

Bayless is well-known as a premiere boxing referee, officiating five of the ten-highest grossing American boxing matches. Bayless has also been inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame as well as the Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame. In 2025, Bayless was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.