Sledgehammer punching McKenzie, 35, puts both titles on the line against iron-fisted rival Askin, 26, in the big domestic showdown, live and exclusive on BoxNation.
McKenzie, a pro for 15 years, goes into the fight with two incredible back-to-back stoppage wins over Tony Conquest and Jon Lewis Dickinson to capture the Commonwealth and British titles in an amazing career resurgence after campaigning predominantly as a light-heavyweight.
With his confidence sky high, the Derby based Jamaican is adamant he’ll knockout his younger challenger and go on to achieve his dream of fighting for a world title.
“I’m ready for whatever Askin brings to the ring, baby,” Said McKenzie.
“I’ve got the experience and punch power over him and there’s no way in his right mind he can think that he’s going to beat me. In fact, if I can’t beat the likes of a Matty Askin then I should retire because there’s no way I can go on to fight for a world title,”
“But I’m not thinking at all about him beating me, this is the Ovill McKenzie show and I’m going to wipe him out and show that he’s not in my league. I’ve been in this game a long time, I’ve had ups and downs and now I’m in the prime of my life and Askin is one more obstacle I have to get rid of,”
“One hundred percent the titles are staying with me and I’m leaving the ring still the champion.”
Mandatory British title challenger Askin from Blackpool is equally as confident as he heads into the biggest fight of his career and believes he take the titles from the veteran.
A pro for just over six years, Askin has fought back from his only two career losses in 2012 to claim the English cruiserweight title from China Clarke in 2013 and successfully defended it against Menay Edwards last March with a ninth round stoppage.
Askin said, “It’s time for a change at the top and McKenzie’s getting knocked out,”
“He’s just a hard-hitting light-heavyweight, I’m a proper cruiserweight and lets see if his strength and power can bother me,
“I respect him for what he’s done, winning the British and Commonwealth titles in his last two fights, but now I believe that it’s my time to shine and this is my golden opportunity so I’ll grab it by the horns,”
“One thing’s for sure this isn’t lasting the distance and I’ll be crowned the new British and Commonwealth Champion.”
An action packed card features Swansea’s dynamite-punching former WBO World Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Maccarinelli, plus rising talents: Manchester super-featherweight Adrian Gonzalez; Liverpool bantamweight Ryan Farrag; Ellesmere Port featherweight Matty Fagan; Manchester welterweight Macaulay McGowan; Ellesmere Port light-middleweight Mason Cartwright; Manchester featherweight Michael Gomez Jnr., Liverpool bantamweight Kevin Hodkinson and Liverpool lightweight Michael Joynson.
BoxNation will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 525. Subscribe at www.boxnation.com Or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.
