McKenzie hails Prizefighter win as 'moment of my life' - 19/05/2009

OVILL McKENZIE has become the Prizefighter Cruiserweights Champion after an exciting night of knockdowns and shocks.

McKenzie defeated John Keeton on points in a thrilling final in front of a capacity crowd at the Earl’s Court in London to scoop the £25,000 top prize.

“This is the moment of my life,” said a delighted McKenzie. “I’m very proud of myself for going in and doing the business. I’m The Upsetter and I’m back.”These guys are big so I had to use my skill and take it to them in and out and do everything to win it.

“It was tough, especially the last fight – that last one was the toughest for me.”I’m a natural light-heavyweight but there’s no point in going to cruiserweight as there’s nothing there for me. So I will stay at my natural weight – light-heavyweight – and I’m very comfortable at that weight.”

Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn pictured with Ovill McKenzie holding the Prizefighter trophy

Every one of the eight fighters in the line-up had fought or held either a European, Commonwealth or British title and it promised to be the best Prizefighter event so far.

The Sky Sports-televised show did not disappoint as there were six knockdowns before the final, the most in any of the seven Prizefighter events, with three contests not going the distance.

The final was between two outsiders as Keeton and McKenzie were priced at 16/1 and 12/1 respectively at the start of the competition.

Keeton, a former British Champion, was celebrating his 37th birthday but could not get the ideal present as he lost 28-29, 28-29, 27-30 in a hard-fought final.

Ovill McKenzie attacks John Keeton in the Prizefighter Cruiserweights final. All pictures taken by Lawrence Lustig

McKenzie, who was drafted in as a late replacement for the injured Mark Krence, was the lightest of the fighters but that did not stop him performing at his best in one of the biggest nights in his career.

He had moved up from light-heavyweight to be in this competition and had only had two weeks notice. But he clinched the title thanks to victories over former IBF world title challenger Terry Dunstan and Darren Corbett before triumphing against Keeton.

It was an evening of big shocks as three of the four fancied fighters lost in the first round before favourite Dean Francis suffered a surprise defeat in the first semi-final.

Francis had produced one of the best performances of the night when he dominated against Neil Simpson before it was stopped in the last. However, Francis, who was priced at 1/9 to make the final after the quarter-final, was floored twice in two and a half minutes against Keeton.

The other quarter-finals saw Keeton gain a points win over Bruce Scott and Darren Corbett do likewise against Micky Steeds.

Results
Winner – £25,000, runner-up £12,000, losing semi-finalists £8,000, losing quarter-finalists £4,000

QF 1: Dean Francis bt Neil Simpson – RSF R3
QF 2: John Keeton bt Bruce Scott – PTS – 29-28, 29-28, 28-27
QF 3: Terry Dunstan lost to Ovill McKenzie – PTS – 25-30, 27-28, 28-29
QF 4: Micky Steeds lost to Darren Corbett – PTS – 26-29, 27-30, 27-30

SF 1: Dean Francis lost to John Keeton – KO R1
SF 2: Ovill McKenzie beat Darren Corbett – RSF R2

F: John Keeton lost to Ovill McKenzie – PTS – 28-29, 28-29, 27-30