Ovill McKenzie retires

11/04/2016 BoxNation

Former British, Commonwealth and WBA Continental Cruiserweight Champion Ovill McKenzie has pulled the curtain on a glittering career after being diagnosed with a heart condition.

Derby-based McKenzie won 25 of his 38 professional bouts, with 13 coming by knockout.

Trained by Martin Bowers at Canning Town’s famous Peacock Gym, McKenzie came within touching distance of winning World honours – at 11 days notice – when he controversially drew to Argentina’s Victor Emilio Ramirez in a challenge for the IBF World Cruiserweight title in Buenos Aires in October 2015.

continue

Ovill McKenzie withdraws from Marco Huck fight on 9/24

09/21/201609/20/2016 BoxNation

Ovill Mckenzie has been forced to withdraw from his challenge for the IBO World Cruiserweight Championship against Marco Huck on medical grounds. Mckenzie, 36, was due to face Germany’s Huck this Saturday 24th September at the Festhalle Arena in Frankfurt.

Derby-based McKenzie, 25-12-1 13 KO’s, narrowly missed out on claiming a World Title when he pushed former IBF ruler Emilio Ramirez to a controversial draw in Argentina last October and is devastated at missing out on another opportunity to win world honours.

continue

Frank Warren to Petition IBF for Immediate Ramirez/McKenzie Rematch

10/06/201510/05/2015 Olly Campbell

Queensbury Promotions’ Frank Warren has gone on record to air his dissatisfaction at Friday night’s scoring in Argentina, that saw his fighter, Ovill McKenzie (25-12-1, 13ko), battle to a disappointing draw with hometown IBF cruiserweight champion, Victor Ramirez, despite appearing to have done enough to win the fight.

The 36 year old McKenzie boxed the fight of his life, having taken the golden opportunity on just 11 days notice, and was clearly the busier of the two on the night, negating much of the plodding champion’s best work with a fleetness of foot one is unaccustomed to seeing from the Jamaican-born “Upsetter.”

continue

Ramirez & McKenzie Battle to Draw in IBF Cruiserweight Title Fight

10/05/201510/03/2015 Olly Campbell

Friday night in Buenos Aires, Argentina, late notice challenger Ovill McKenzie was desperately unlucky in being held to a draw by IBF 200 lb champion and home-town favourite, Victor Emilio Ramirez, with consensus opinion on social media appearing to be the 36 year old “Upsetter” had done enough to walk out the ring as champion.

The likable Jamaica-born Brit – taking the fight on 11 days notice – boxed a smart fight for the duration, largely relying on fleetness of foot to avoid the plodding Ramirez’s best work, constantly throwing out the jab to good effect and spinning out the way when the visibly bigger and stronger Ramirez tried to bully him back on to the ropes.

continue

“The Upsetter” Seeking to Live Up to His Name Tonight in Buenos Aires

10/05/201510/02/2015 Olly Campbell

Tonight in Argentina, British Cruiserweight contender Ovill McKenzie (25-12, 13ko) will be looking to make his own personal piece of history when he walks into the metaphorical “Lion’s Den” against hometown favourite and new IBF champion Victor Emilio Ramirez (22-2, 17ko) in Buenos Aires.

Never one to shirk a challenge, the Jamaica-born Brit received just 11 days notice for the fight after inactive Cuban former champ Yoann Pablo Hernandez, was stripped for again seeking to postpone his own defence against Ramirez, resulting in the South American being upgraded to full champion and needing a late-notice opponent for tonight’s date.

continue

Ovil McKenzie Lands IBF World Title Shot at Victor Ramirez / Hernandez Stripped of IBF 200 lb Strap

09/22/201509/22/2015 Olly Campbell

Yoann Pablo Hernandez (29-1, 14ko), Cuba’s frequently inactive IBF cruiserweight champion, has been stripped of his title following yet more injury, again ruling him out of October 2nd’s clash with Argentina’s Victor Ramirez, who has now been upgraded to full champion status by the governing body after the fight was already previously postponed.

Ramirez (22-2, 17ko) will still box on the 2nd in Argentina, with British contender and IBF #14, Ovil McKenzie (25-12, 13ko) handed a surprise shot at the new South American champion.

continue

McKenzie retains titles

03/28/201503/27/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

Ovill McKenzie retained his British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles with a majority point’s decision over Matty Askin this evening at the York Hall, Bethnal Green.

‘The Upsetter’ defied the odds once more to come on strong from the 6th round to turn the tide on the challenger who had built up a substantial lead through the first 5 sessions – certainly in my opinion at least.

Askin started the better, controlling the 1st round with sharp movement to keep the stalking McKenzie off balance, popping a stiff left jab catching his static looking foe.

continue

Ovill McKenzie: Substance over style

02/14/2015 Ryan Forde-Kelly

It’s a sad statement of fact that in boxing a controversial public persona – or an image – can propel a fighter to levels and fights where they don’t belong.

Some fighters are carefully piloted to the top of the mountain aboard a Sikorsky helicopter and others are given a pickaxe and a battered old rope at the bottom – enter Ovill McKenzie.

continue

Fans Witness Woefully Premature 2nd-Round Stoppage As Ovill McKenzie Stops Enzo Maccarinelli

09/15/201611/10/2012 ESB

By James Slater: Tonight in Liverpool, fans were settling into a fight that might well have developed into a most memorable slugfest. Instead, after the wholly unsatisfactory stoppage that took place in the 2nd-round, fans were left with an unforgettable TKO – one of the most shockingly premature you could wish to name.

Big-hitting Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli, he of the notoriously shaky chin, the recent failed drugs test and the run of bad luck as far as impressive performances go, was “saved from further punishment” by the usually more than capable Ian John-Lewis when he was pulled out in the 2nd of his battle with reigning Commonwealth light-heavy champ Ovill McKenzie. Stuck on the ropes “Big Macc” may have been at the time of the most controversial stoppage you will likely see all year, yet the former WBO cruiser king had just landed a right uppercut, was anticipating the blows coming from “The Upsetter,” and was, as he later stated in no uncertain terms, “riding the storm.”

McKenzie, the same age at 32, had got through with a notable right hand upstairs, followed by an even more noticeable left hand to the head, but John-Lewis’ decision to dive in was immediately judged to have been a result of “panic” (commentator John Rawling’s apt description). The fans instantly booed, Maccarinelli was outraged and the potential cracker was reduced to another black eye for boxing.

continue