Saw an article before last weekend's big fight with Duke Mckensie giving his views. He ws described as a 3 or 4 time World Champion. My only memory of McKensie is Steve Robinson taking him out with a body shot. I assume this was towards the end of his career. Despite his achievements I've never really read much about him in the British Press. For those who can remember - How good was he back in his prime years?
I never found him very exciting to watch and would never stay up on a school night to watch him. The Robinson fight was towards the end of his career.
Mckenzie was a good, upright boxer with a good jab and right cross. He lacked decent head movement and wasn't massively durable but was a capable fighter and a decent puncher.
His best win was Kronk guy Canizales, when Manny Steward only thought he had to show up to beat him, which annoyed Duke. Before that Duke had been trying to bring more body shots and head movement into his game, but reverted back to the old British left jab-right cross for hooking Canizales. He'd step back a few inches when Canizales unloaded and clip him with straights. He was an underdog going in.
Oh and he never won a bean as an amateur. Mickey Duff matched him perfectly. His footwork was always improving as he came along. Decent little fighter, maybe underrated.
When I read he was a 3 time world champ I thought he must have been one of the British greats, but that's not the vibe I'm getting from these replies.
That sounds like a good win as Naz found him a real handful. Also I'm sure Soto has a win against Castillo on his record
An impression I get of McKensie when listening to him commentate or reading his views is that he is a bit pissed off that he doesn't get as much plaudits as some other British fighters of the past. Do you agree with this? If this is true, is he right to feel this way?