Clinton McKenzie (born 15 September 1955) is a former British

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional fights are supervised by a regulatory auth ...

. He fought in the

light welterweight Light welterweight, also known as junior welterweight or super lightweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional boxing In professional boxing, light welterweight is contested between the lightweight and welterweight divisions, ...

division and became the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

light welterweight title holder and briefly held the European title.

Background

McKenzie was born in

Clarendon, Jamaica Clarendon () is a Parishes of Jamaica, parish in Jamaica. It is located on the south of the island, roughly halfway between the island's eastern and western ends. Located in the Parishes of Jamaica#Counties of Jamaica, county of Middlesex Count ...

, the oldest of seven children. The McKenzie family emigrated to the United Kingdom when Clinton was nine years of age. He is the brother of former three-weight world champion boxer Duke McKenzie and former amateur boxer and politician Winston McKenzie, father of footballer-turn boxer Leon McKenzie and a daughter Cascia McKenzie, he is also the adoptive father to professional boxer and Big Brother UK 2009 housemate, Angel McKenzie.

Amateur career

McKenzie represented

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

and

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

throughout his amateur career which culminated in representing Great Britain at the 1976 Olympics in

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. McKenzie won his first two fights before losing to eventual gold medal winner

Sugar Ray Leonard Ray Charles Leonard (born May 17, 1956), best known as Sugar Ray Leonard, is an American former professional boxer. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he competed professionally between 1977 and 1997, winning quintuple c ...

. He won the 1976 Amateur Boxing Association British light-welterweight title, when boxing out of the Sir Philip Game ABC.

Olympic results

1976 (as a light welterweight) *Defeated Daniele Zappaterra (ITA), 5:0 *Defeated Ismael Martínez (PUR), 3:2 *Lost to

Ray Leonard Ray Charles Leonard (born May 17, 1956), best known as Sugar Ray Leonard, is an American former professional boxer. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he competed professionally between 1977 and 1997, winning world titl ...

(USA), 5:0

Professional career

Following the publicity of the Olympic Games, McKenzie left

amateur boxing Amateur boxing is the variant of boxing practiced in clubs and associations around the world, at the Olympic Games, Pan American Games and Commonwealth Games, as well as at the varsity sports, collegiate level. Amateur boxing bouts comprise three ...

to turn professional in October 1976, winning his first fight at the York Hall,

Bethnal Green Bethnal Green is an area in London, England, and is located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is in east London and part of the East End of London, East End. The area emerged from the small settlement which developed around the common la ...

, London, in which McKenzie beat Jimmy King on points over eight rounds. McKenzie fought for his first title belt, the vacant British light welterweight title, in October 1978 which he won with a ten-round knockout win over Jim Montague in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The following year, McKenzie lost the title at the Wembley Conference Centre to Colin Powers on points but later that year defeated Powers at the same venue to regain the title.

References

External links

* 1974 births Living people English male boxers English people of Jamaican descent Sportspeople of Jamaican descent Jamaican emigrants to the United Kingdom Sportspeople from Clarendon Parish, Jamaica People from Croydon Boxers from the London Borough of Croydon Olympic boxers for Great Britain Boxers at the 1976 Summer Olympics Light-welterweight boxers {{England-boxing-bio-stub