By Vince D’Writer: Welterweight boxer Michael McKinson is a 28-year-old Englishman, who is set to travel to Fort Worth, Texas to face the biggest challenge of his pro boxing career. On Saturday night August 6 at the Dickies Arena, live on DAZN, McKinson will step inside the ring to battle an opponent who is one of boxing’s rising stars.
A product of Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom, Michael McKinson started his pro boxing career back in 2014. He primarily competed in the UK winning four international titles, and maintaining an unblemished boxing record. When he steps inside the ring on Saturday night he will inherit the role of underdog when he faces the talented knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr.
The two men were originally scheduled to face each other in March 2022, but unfortunately Ortiz had to withdraw from the fight after being diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, which is a breakdown of muscle tissue that releases the damaging protein myoglobin into the blood. McKinson remained on the card and he collected a unanimous decision victory against Alex Martin.
Now that Vergil Ortiz Jr., (18-0, 18KOs) has a clean bill of health, the fight is back on. Like Ortiz, McKinson is also an undefeated fighter, but the big difference comes in the knockout department. Ortiz is a perfect 18 for 18 while McKinson has 22 victories, but only 2 of them have come by way of knockout. The knockout total is a red flag because when you see the low knockout percentage, it makes you wonder how can McKinson be able to keep an aggressive fighter like Ortiz off of him?
During the virtual media Q&A, McKinson ‘s punching power and knockout total were mentioned, and a question was asked in regards to how McKinson planned to keep Ortiz off of him? He responded by stating, “I fought bigger, stronger, big punchers, sparred big punchers, I’ve been in the ring with big guys my whole life. The reason I got two knockouts, it’s not that I can’t punch, it’s because it’s been so easy out pointing these guys. I say it’s so easy, but I’ve been comfortable.”
McKinson understands the difficulty ahead of him, but he is accustomed to being the underdog. He feels like he’s focused and well prepared for the fight. He is extremely confident based on his experience of fighting in other people’s backyards, and coming out victorious.
McKinson is a slightly awkward southpaw who has a high boxing IQ. His goal is to keep the fight in the center of the ring and to control the distance.
McKinson is feeling really confident as it relates to his chance of winning, and during the virtual media Q&A he explained why. “I’ll pick one thing out that I’ve got different than everyone he has ever faced. He’s never faced an undefeated fighter like me. He’s never been in the ring with someone that’s never tasted defeat.”
The 0 in McKinson’s record is fueling his belief that he can pull off the upset. “I’ve never tasted defeat. I don’t know what it’s like to lose. I’m a very proud Englishman coming to the other side of the world, coming to the lion’s den in an attempt to tame the young lion.”
Michael McKinson realizes he has a difficult assignment ahead of him, but he is proud, confident, and he’s convinced that on Saturday night he will shock the world.