Ovill Mckenzie
Ovill McKenzie | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ovill McKenzie 26 November 1979 |
| Nationality |  Jamaica |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Light heavyweight |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 26 |
| Wins | 17 |
| Wins by KO | 6 |
| Losses | 9 |
| Draws | 0 |
Ovill McKenzie (born 26 November 1979) is a Jamaican professional boxer fighting out of Derby in England, he competes primarily in the light heavyweight division but has also fought at cruiserweight. He was the winner of the seventh Prizefighter tournament and has also held the Commonwealth light heavyweight title.
Early professional career
McKenzie's professional career begun on 6th March 2003 with a victory over fellow debutant Leigh Alliss at Ashton Gate the home of Bristol City Football club. He followed this victory up 10 April 2003 with a win over Welshman Nathan King in Wales. However three straight defeats followed his initial winning start and he registered losses to Pinky Burton, Peter Haymer and Courtney Fry before finishing 2003 with a victory over Edwin Cleary to finish his inaugral year as a pro with a record of 3-3.
His second year of professional boxing saw another set of mixed results, fighting five times in 2004 he lost of three occasions albeit to some significant opposition which included the likes of future WBO super middleweight champion Denis Inkin[1], future WBA light heavyweight champion Stipe Drews and future double English title challenger Tommy Eastwood. One significant result during the year however saw him score a shock upset win over the then undefeated English champion Steven Spartacus in a fight which unfortunately for McKenzie was only over six rounds and did not have the title on the line.[2]
Commonwealth champion
Over the course of 2005 and 2006 McKenzie was able to maintain an eight fight winning run culminating in a successful challenge against former conquerer Peter Haymer for the vacant Commonwealth light heavyweight title on 24th November 2006. The run also saw McKenzie register a revenge win over undefeated Courtney Fry on 13th May 2005 and take the unbeaten record from decent Hungarian Gyorgy Hidvegi the fight before. McKenzie's reign as champion would not last long however losing the belt on 9th February 2007 in his first defence to Dean Francis after being knocked out in the first round.[3] McKenzie regrouped from the defeat with a win against undefeated Mark Nilsen in his next fight but then lost once more to Tony Salem at the Doncaster Dome on 19th October 2007.
Prizefighter win
Mckenzie returned to action a year and a half later following the loss to Salem only to once again drop a close points decision this time to Bob Ajisafe at the Leigh Indoor Sports Center on 17th April 2009. He followed this On 19 May 2009 by moving up to cruiserweight and scoring a suprise victory in the seventh installment of the Prizefighter tournament. With only two weeks notice McKenzie entered the competition after one of the original boxers, Mark Krence, pulled out.[4] The move was a good one for McKenzie as he defeated former European champion Terry Dunstan in the first round, former Commonwealth and Irish champion Darren Corbett in the semi-final[5] and former British champion John Keeton in the final to take the main prize of £25000.[6]
References
- ^ Fightwriter Mario Veit vs Denis Inkin p.11
- ^ Boxrec | Ovill McKenzie professional record
- ^ Saddoboxing | Dean Francis wins Commonwealth title
- ^ This is Derbyshire | McKenzie earns a Prizefighter challenge
- ^ Belfast Telegraph | McKenzie halts Corbett in the semis
- ^ The Daily Dust | Rank outsider Ovill McKenzie wins Prizefighter