Yes, Ovill McKenzie is a huge underdog, and for good reason. But he doesn’t deserve to be ripped into. The 35-year-old stepped up to fight IBF Cruiserweight champ Victor Ramirez with just 11 days notice.
McKenzie (25-12, 13 KO) weighed in at 191.2 lbs yesterday, while Ramirez (22-2, 17 KO) came in at 199.9. The pair will do battle tonight in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
McKenzie received the call to fight after Ramirez’s original opponent Yoan Pablo Hernandez pulled out due to injury. Hernandez was then stripped of his IBF title following a long spout of inactivity, which subsequently elevated Interim-holder Ramirez to ‘full’ IBF champion.
For Ramirez, 31, things couldn’t be going better. Well, to a degree. Despite seeing a considerable drop in his paycheck, he’s got a far easier opponent in McKenzie, and is also now the IBF champ – without, er, beating the champ. You get it, right?
Without checking boxing history’s long list of upsets, this would be right up there if McKenzie manages to pull it off. Especially given he had less than two weeks to prepare. There’ll be plenty of British boxing fans wishing the likable Derby-based Jamaican well – cos’ this dude’s up against it, folks.
“I’m just counting down the hours and ready to get in the ring tonight and cause a massive upset,” McKenzie told Boxing News. “What have I got to lose? Nothing. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got for this one big moment.
“No one apart from me, my team or my family and friends are giving me a chance. But I’m going to give it my best shot and make Britain and Jamaica proud.”
Thoughts on Ovill McKenzie vs Victor Ramirez? And er, try to be nice.
Mark Phillips is the Head Staff Writer/Assistant Editor at BoxingBase.com, and provides worldwide news, coverage and analysis – he can be reached via our Contact Page.
