By Mark Eklid ….. Derby Telegraph
THE Welsh are planning a big party in Cardiff and Ovill McKenzie has every intention of spoiling it for them.
The champion from Derby will defend his Commonwealth light-heavyweight title against Swansea slugger Enzo Maccarinelli in the Welsh capital on August 17. On the same bill, Caerphily’s Nathan Cleverly will put his WBO light-heavyweight belt on the line against Sergey Kovalev.
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Ovill McKenzie says he is ready to silence the home crowd.
Promoter Frank Warren would dearly love to put Maccarinelli and Cleverly in the same ring at the same time in the near future but McKenzie is in the way – and he knows it.
“I am meant to go there and give him my belt because Frank Warren wants to put Maccarinelli in the ring with Cleverly next time,” he said.
“That’s why they want me to give Maccarinelli my belt but I’m going there to put him to sleep.”
McKenzie did force an early end when he last defended his Commonwealth belt against Maccarinelli, in Liverpool in November.
Referee Ian John-Lewis stopped the Welshman two minutes and 15 seconds into the second round with McKenzie starting to unload on him in the corner but John-Lewis was roundly criticised for stepping in prematurely, especially by Maccarinelli and his handlers.
A re-match was always on the cards after that and though having to go and fight on Maccarinelli’s home turf this time makes it a tougher challenge. McKenzie is looking forward to the chance to put the verdict beyond doubt this time.
“The referee should have let the fight go on for another 15 seconds last time and I would have finished him,” he added. “I will show them this time, I will go and prove myself again.
“I’m always going into other people’s back yards and beating them. That’s why they call me The Upsetter. I take the fight away from them and win in their back yard and that’s not a problem for me because I’m used to it.
“When you are there in the ring, there are just you two guys and all the fans in the world cannot save you.”
A Commonwealth defence was not the only option open to McKenzie for his next fight. He is an official challenger for the vacant British title but scheduled opponent Bob Ajisafe has an injury and a bout against Poland’s Dariusz Sek for the EU title has also been mooted.
But McKenzie knows what is top of his wish list – a Lonsdale Belt.
“The British title fight is going to happen. The EU title – I don’t know if that is going to happen,” he said.
“The British is the one for me because it is still bigger than the Commonwealth, it has that prestige about it, and it’s a beautiful belt as well. It would look good in my home.
“When I am the British champion, I would have the whole of Britain behind me and I need that belt so badly if I am to get a shot at a world title.
“I know if I lose that fight I’m not going to get that chance again, so I will go there all guns blazing in Cardiff, keep my belt and then get ready for the British.
“I’m ready now. I’ve competed on a lot less notice than this and I have had enough time to get ready for this fight. I’m fit and ready.”