SM
Brighton vs. Man City: 3 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

On This Day: Duke McKenzie claims WBO bantamweight title at Elephant & Castle

:Headline: On This Day: Duke McKenzie claims WBO bantamweight title at Elephant & Castle: ID:404436: from db_amp
Duke McKenzie was the first British boxer to win world titles at three different weights.

Among the historic treble Duke McKenzie achieved in the ring, it is chapter two of the story that he regards as the greatest moment of his career.

Croydon-born McKenzie was the first British boxer to win world titles at three different weights.

And the second triumph in the trilogy came on June 30, 1991 at Southwark's Elephant and Castle Centre when he defeated Gaby Canizales to claim the American's WBO bantamweight crown.

The previous year McKenzie, having moved up to bantamweight, had been beaten via unanimous decision by Frenchman Thierry Jacob in Calais in a clash for the vacant European title – a bout that saw the Londoner at one point knocked down to the canvas.

But valuable lessons he took from that contest then paid off handsomely nine months later.

"I showed what I learned from Jacob against Gabe Canizales when I won the WBO bantamweight championship," McKenzie told The Ring magazine in 2017.

"The same tactics Jacob beat me with, I then used to beat Canizales. I set a really quick pace and, 'cause he couldn't nail me, I slipped, blocked and, if he hits me with one, I hit him with four.

McKenzie's first world title came with victory over Rolando Bohol in 1988 (David Giles/PA).

"I just outbox him for 12 rounds. He never got near me."

At the end, the judges had scored the bout 120-108, 120-108 and 120-109 in McKenzie's favour.

He became a world champion for the first time in October 1988, taking the IBF flyweight belt from Rolando Bohol of the Philippines with an 11th-round stoppage at Wembley Conference Centre.

Three fights later, in June 1989, the strap was surrendered at Wembley Arena as McKenzie suffered the first defeat of his professional career, in its 24th bout, losing on points to Northern Ireland's Dave McAuley.

McKenzie became an MBE in 2011 (Chris Ison/PA).

His subsequent reign as bantamweight king also ended three fights on from assuming the belt, this time in abrupt fashion with a first-round knockout at the hands of Puerto Rican Rafael Del Valle at the Royal Albert Hall in May 1992.

McKenzie would bounce back again swiftly, getting his hands on a third world title just five months later as he overcame another American, Jesse Benavides, at Lewisham Theatre to secure the WBO super bantamweight belt.

The following June he was beaten by Del Valle's compatriot Daniel Jiminez at the same venue, and in 1994 McKenzie was denied another stint as a world champion when WBO featherweight title-holder Steve Robinson defeated him in Cardiff.

McKenzie, now 57, fought for the last time in 1998 before retiring with a pro record of 39-7, 20 KOs. In 2011 he was awarded an MBE for his contribution to his sport.

amp_article__404436 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-06-30 06:59:47:
html db last update - 2021-03-02 12:59:57 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool34228475344174
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .