FREE-AGENCY is a difficult, dark and lonely place for any fighter; a time at which neither money nor fights are guaranteed whilst bills are still to be paid, and fewer people than ever appear to be in your corner.
Your phone goes quiet, your name gets mentioned less and less and opportunities become scarce whilst the world of boxing continues to turn, unconcerned by the absence of the soon-forgotten contenders of old.
That is the agonising position in which Michael McKinson, 27-2 (4 KOs), sits once again, despite being only 30 years-old and losing just twice in 29 fights – each time at the world level.
Proudly hailing from Portsmouth, the lone island city of the United Kingdom, the similarly isolated McKinson fought on a variety of small hall shows without a promotional deal in the early stages of his career, eventually claiming the WBC International Silver title against Colin Lynes at the Mountbatten Centre in his hometown in what was a 13th pro bout.
After two defences and a growing reputation, McKinson earned a shot at the vacant WBO European crown and outpointed Evgenii Pavko for the strap in 2019. However, while the belt held significant allure itself, it was the opportunities that come with such a title that appealed to McKinson, thrusting his name into conversations for future fights.
Back-to-back wins over undefeated rivals would follow but it was in 2021 when the slick southpaw finally got the call he had been waiting for – a chance to take on the well-respected Chris Kongo on the high-profile Povetkin-Whyte II Matchroom card in Gibraltar.
Despite stepping through the ropes as an underdog, McKinson grabbed the opportunity with both hands and proved that his undefeated record did not mask his true skill level, as is the case with many lesser-known and intelligently moved British contenders.
Victory saw McKinson crowned as the WBO Global welterweight champion and he was rewarded with a three-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing, as Eddie Hearn became McKinson’s first and only promoter to date, needing 20 prior fights to earn such support.
However, whilst signed under Hearn, McKinson would fight on just one Matchroom show.
Following a defence of his WBO Global marble against Przemyslaw Runowksi, the southerner would fly across the pond for his U.S. debut and register a unanimous decision triumph against Alex Martin on a Golden Boy bill, teeing up a shot at unbeaten knockout artist, Vergil Ortiz Jr, just five months later in the headline attraction of another event stage by Oscar De La Hoya’s outfit.
Against an opponent who is considered one of the top 154lbers these days, McKinson earned the respect of many fans for his efforts against Ortiz. However, he was ultimately unable to avoid a first career defeat as he was stopped in the ninth round, signalling the end of both his unbeaten streak and his deal with Matchroom.
Speaking exclusively with Boxing News, McKinson admitted that, although he was ‘frustrated’ at his contract not being extended off of the back of a maiden professional loss against a world-renowned talent, he holds no grudge against Hearn or Matchroom and is thankful that he was permitted to fight in the States.
“It’s all a bit mental, I was thinking about it the other day, I’ve had 29 professional fights, won five titles, boxed on TV, boxed in different countries but I’ve only had a promoter for three of those fights.
“I’ve never got a bad word to say about Matchroom because they changed my whole career. They gave me an opportunity; I went and took it and earned my three-fight deal with them and I kind of maximised those three fights because two of them were on Golden Boy cards in America for more money than the fights that I would have got in the contract if they were on Matchroom’s cards.
“So, I can’t really complain about my run with Matchroom. It was a bit frustrating because I earned a lot of people’s love and respect in my performance against Ortiz, so I maybe thought that there could have been an extension to my contract, but it just didn’t happen.”
Following the expiration of that deal, McKinson became aware that his record of just two knockout wins in 23 outings was damaging his value as a ticket seller and draw, thus lessening his chances of another promotional deal and somewhat forcing to alter his usually back-footed style and adopt a more aggressive approach that saw score two wins inside of the distance in his next three fights.
“On my way up, I had a different mindset, because I was winning, and I wasn’t putting a foot wrong. I was getting into rhythms where I probably could have pushed on and stop the guys, but I didn’t need to. It wasn’t until I took the loss to Ortiz, then I was going into 2023 with the mindset that I need to be a bit more exciting because that is what people want to see.
“People are going to judge me and my punching ability, so I tried to silence that, I have been a bit more exciting these last two years and I have always got the IQ and slick skills because that is what I am best at, but I wanted to prove that I can go through the gears when I need to.”
Then, in a fourth fight in five on a Boxxer event without officially signing to the Sky Sports-based firm, McKinson was presented with a proposal that would push him into the mix at the world level once again should he be successful – a clash with South Africa’s Thulani Mbenge (20-2) for the vacant IBO welterweight world title.
Yet, it was the visitor who was able to pull off the upset and crush McKinson’s hopes of an immediate return to the big stage, squashing those aspirations with a surprise unanimous-decision win against an out-of-sorts version of ‘The Problem’, who revealed that his performance was heavily impacted because he caught the flu during the build-up and that he regrets going ahead with the contest.
“I had been out in America sparring with Jaron Ennis. I flew home from Philadelphia 10 days before the fight, but I caught the flu, so for the last hard week of training I had the flu, but I still decided to fight. It was my decision, but you don’t get offered things after a loss, do you? It’s a frustrating time for me [now].
“I was weak and I had quite a heavy cold and a few people said to me, ‘are you sure you should fight next week?’ but I genuinely did believe that, because I had such a great camp, if I could get rid of the cold bit of the flu then I would be OK.
“I didn’t actually realise the effect that it had on me until the first-round had finished. I had a decent first-round, I hurt him, but then I walked back to the corner, and I just felt zapped. If I am honest, I boxed 11 more rounds on empty, I had nothing in my legs, I had no energy, I felt weak and I fought the whole fight on a big heart and a good chin!
“I regretted going ahead with the fight after the first-round, nine times out of 10 I have got what it takes to beat somebody like Mbengue and while I take nothing away from him, he got everything right, I made some decisions that I definitely learnt from there.”
Now McKinson sits out in the cold, coping with that familiar yet uncomforting reality of free agency, although there is a different feel to his position this time, knowing that the next bone thrown his way could be his last chance to re-emerge at the peak of the 147lb division but still maintaining belief that he has the quality to make any such opening count.
“I have only lost twice, at world level both times, once against a world star in Vergil Ortiz and once against somebody who was ranked higher than me and I’d just had the flu! I was at my worst. I would say that I am definitely one of Britain’s best fighters that hasn’t got a promoter right now, I’ve got to be.
“I imagine how my career would go if I had a bit of love and support – a promoter or a bit of help. It is tough.
“I’m very impatient and I’m now in a position where I need to wait for a decent opportunity, but time waits for no man, and these are the important years for me and my career. I am open to fighting anyone in the world with the right notice.
“For now, I just need to get myself fit and ready, because people’s lives are changing because of last-minute opportunities.
“Regardless of my performance in October, I know that I am world level, but if there is a decent enough fight domestically that would benefit me and my career then the answer is always yes. Beggars can’t be choosers at this stage.
“Don’t count me out, my two losses came at the world level and now I have been left with no opportunities, give me eight weeks’ notice, and I will fight anyone.”
Whilst McKinson is understandably considered a high-risk, low-reward opponent at both the domestic and world levels at present, the lefty has undeniable talent, determination to succeed, and the motivation to flourish at the highest level to prove his doubters and promoters who didn’t take a chance on him wrong.
A shrewd signing for any promoter, Mikey McKinson can still be a ‘problem’ for any fighter in the 147lb division.
