Frank Warren calls on IBF to award Ovill McKenzie rematch

By Derbysport

TOP promoter Frank Warren has thrown his weight behind calls for an immediate rematch for Ovill McKenzie after seeing the Derby fighter robbed of the chance to be IBF world cruiserweight champion.

McKenzie is not the first boxer to feel he did not get justice from the scorecards after going into the champion's back yard but he certainly had good cause to claim that he is the latest to be hard done by.

It was a heroic performance by the British and Commonwealth champion as he took on Argentine Victor Emilio Ramirez in Buenos Aires and Warren was not the only observer to feel that McKenzie was the better man.

But the verdict from the judges was a split decision draw, which was enough for Ramirez to cling on to his belt.

Alejandro Lopez Cid scored it for Ramirez 115-113, Larry Layton gave it to McKenzie 115-113 and John Poturaj had it level at 114-114.

Warren believes that a return bout is the least McKenzie deserves.

"It was an exceptional performance from McKenzie fighting away from home in Ramirez's home city," he said.

"Remember he only came into the fight with 11 days' notice but gave it everything he had.

"I think that McKenzie well won the fight and did more than Ramirez in the rounds, although some were close. McKenzie was the better man and hurt him on a number of occasions.

"I will write to the IBF in view of the decision that it was scored a draw and that they do the right thing and give McKenzie an immediate rematch against Ramirez, which I believe is only fair."

McKenzie clearly felt he had done enough as he sent out a message to his fans on social media before flying home.

"The only thing that's bruised on me is my hands and my faith in the IBF," he said.

With a hostile crowd baying for his blood, McKenzie showed an ice-cold nerve in the opening rounds, pounding out the jab and using his feet as Ramirez bulldozed forward looking to unleash heavy punches.

He gave Ramirez a taste of the power in his right hand in the second, though the champion absorbed it well.

Ramirez raised his game in the third and fourth and McKenzie had to take a few good rights but his only moment of concern came in the sixth, as two jabs were followed by a solid straight right from the champion.

For a moment, McKenzie had to hold on but his response was positive, a right hook and straight right showing Ramirez that he was far from finished.

Again, the pressure was mostly coming from Ramirez in the eighth and ninth, though McKenzie replied with a big right hand which stiffened the legs of the champion and he got through with stinging combinations followed by a good right hook in the 10th.

McKenzie went searching for the big finish to put the decision beyond doubt as he threw everything into the last two rounds but he could not find the big punch to settle it and, as the decision went to the scorecards, he was left with only pride to bring back to Derby this time.

Source:  www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Boxing-Frank-Warren-calls-IBF-award-Ovill/story-27919938-detail/story.html