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.
A frustrated Ramirez had precious few moments of success early on, showing his irritation by kicking the ringside advertising well out of the way when it briefly strayed into play, and many of the rounds could admittedly be construed as close, dependent on whether the aggression of the Argentine, or the smart boxing and eye-catching work of the Brit, was being noticed more by the judges.
In the 8th Ramirez seemingly broke through for his best moments of the fight, catching McKenzie with some solid right hands, head-hunting and looking to end matters, although it was to no avail as McKenzie merely tucked up tight, weathered the storm and was gone, staying busy right up until the final bell.
It was always going to be extremely difficult for McKenzie to get the decision away from home in Argentina, and it became evident early that despite his lack of technical finesse, Ramirez is a solid, walk forward pressure fighter with a granite chin, and he wasn’t going to be budged, whatever Ovill threw at him.
Come the final bell there was some initial confusion as the Spanish announcement filtered through to the English broadcast, and the split draw scores of 113-115, 115-113 and a 114-114 were read out.
“The only thing that’s bruised on me is my hands and my faith in the IBF,” a disappointed McKenzie said after the verdict.
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