Ovill McKenzie puts Commonwealth title on line

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.

  1. OvillMcKenzie

    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.

 “Maccarinelli v Cleverly in Cardiff – that’s what they want because that  would sell lots of tickets. I would fight Cleverly but they don’t want me. They  know Cleverly can beat Maccarinelli but they look at me and they say ‘this guy’s  dangerous’.

“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.”

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