Mikey’s come a long way since his night boxing at an Irish cricket club!
Ahead of the biggest fight of his life, a look back at McKinson’s undefeated pro record
Mikey McKinson is gearing up for the biggest night of his boxing career.
The Pompey Problem looks to add the WBO Global welterweight belt to his collection when he faces Chris Kongo live on Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday.
McKinson, 26, will bid to take his perfect professional record to 20-0 while ending the Bermondsey-based fighter’s unbeaten days in the pro ranks.
The chance of a mouthwatering Battle of Britain on the biggest stage on the Dillian Whyte v Alexander Povetkin II undercard in Gibraltar is a world away from McKinson’s humble beginnings.
He certainly hasn’t had it easy on a professional road that started out at the Devenish Complex in Belfast seven years ago.
Since then, McKinson has remained unbeaten in his 19 pro fights, winning the WBC youth world title along with the WBC international silver and WBO European welterweight belts.
Here, The News charts his pro career as McKinson prepares for a well-earned big night in front of the Sky Sports Box Office cameras.
Jan Salamacha October 4, 2014, Belfast
McKinson kicked off his professional career with a points win over Polish fighter Salamacha at the Devenish Complex in the Northern Irish capital. The Sky Sports Box Office cameras were a long way off then.
Pawel Seliga Nov 1, 2014, Downpatrick CC
Howzat for a second professional win. In pro fight number two, McKinson defeated another Pole on points - this time at a cricket club!
Teodor Nikolov
Nov 22, 2014, Belfast
In a third successive visit to Northern Ireland, McKinson had no issues seeing off another Eastern European opponent in the pro ranks. He continued a perfect start to life in the full-time arena by beating his Bulgarian opponent on points.
Aleksas Vaseris Feb 7, 2015, Belfast
This would be the southpaw’s final fight at the Devenish Complex and he made sure his record reached 4-0 as he said goodbye to Northern Ireland after overcoming his Lithuanian opponent.
Dan Carr Mar 28, 2015, Portsmouth
In his fifth pro bout, McKinson boxed in front of a crowd in his hometown of Portsmouth for the first time. He defeated Carr on points at the Mountbatten Centre with brother, Lucas Ballingall, making his professional debut on the same show.
Jerome Samuels July 4, 2015, Bournemouth
For the first time in his career, the Pompey Problem didn’t have to go the distance with opponent Samuels retired from the fight.
Casey Blair Nov 21, 2015, York Hall
This was a big moment for McKinson as he took his pro record to 7-0 with a win at
British boxing’s iconic York Hall venue.
Stanislas Nenkov Mar 13, 2016, Liquid & Envy Nightclub
The southpaw was back performing in front of his hometown supporters and beating his Bulgarian opponent.
Ali Wyatt
Nov 12, 2016, Brighton
McKinson closed in on the perfect 10 in the pro ranks with a ninth career victory at the Metropole Hotel.
Duane Green Dec 10, 2016, Liquid & Envy Nightclub
This points win would set McKinson up for a shot at the vacant WBC world youth welterweight months later. title just
Ryan Martin April 8, 2017, Swindon
five
What a moment this was for McKinson. He defeated Swindon’s Ryan Martin in front of his home support on a unanimous decision to take the vacant WBC youth world welterweight title. ‘I walked out to a swarm of boos and abuse,’ he recalled after. ‘I took control of the fight with a smile on my face … I started talking to him, stuck my tongue out, completely killed him mentally.’
Mario Petrov Sept 22, 2017, Carshalton
Fresh from claiming the WBC youth world title, McKinson was back in the ring and beating Bulgarian Petrov before getting another title shot.
Colin Lynes
Nov 25, 2017, Mountbatten Centre
McKinson claimed career belt number two by knocking
out Colin Lynes, a veteran at 39, in the sixth round for the vacant WBC silver international welterweight title.
Kevin McCauley July 14, 2018, Civic Hall, Grays
With the WBC youth world and silver international belts in his possession, the southpaw was full of confidence and picked up a points victory over McCauley.
Sammy McNess October 26, 2018, York Hall
McKinson made the first defence of his WBC international silver welterweight title on his maiden appearance live on TV. A dream night saw him retain his belt courtesy of a unanimous decision verdict in his favour in Bethnal Green.
Ryan Kelly Mar 9, 2019, Brentwood Centre
McKinson successfully defended his WBC international silver welterweight title again. In what he described as his ‘toughest test’ up until then, he defeated Kelly on a unanimous decision. After his win, McKinson added: ‘I showed even more of my ability tonight. I made him look stupid a lot of times and also showed I’m not a one-trick pony.’
Evgeny Pavko July 20, 2019 Brentwood Centre
McKinson picked up the vacant WBO European welterweight title - the third belt of his career - by beating his Russian opponent on a unanimous decision. Previewing the fight, McKinson had said: ‘I had to take this unknown gamble. He’s a massive puncher but I’ve taken gambles since I’ve turned professional so if people want to run and hide then step aside because I’m coming through. Yes, this is a gamble but I know it’s one that’s going to pay off because I’m 100 per cent certain I’ll come out the victor.’
He was right.
Luis Alberto Veron Nov 9, 2019, York Hall
McKinson moved into the top-10 of the WBO world rankings, inflicting a first pro career defeat on the Argentine, and taking his own perfect record to 18-0.
Martin Harkin Oct 18, 2020, South Kirkby
Back in the ring after an 11-month absence because of the pandemic, McKinson had no problems taking his record to 19-0 by inflicting a first pro defeat on Scot Martin Harkin in the West Yorkshire town of South Kirkby.