‘Big McK’ Leon Now Going For a British Title

Former Sky Blues’ striker striker and CCFPA member Leon McKenzie is ready to take a step up in his burgeoning post football professional career of boxing. Unbeaten (six wins and a draw) in his seven professional fights since June 2013 it has been announced that Leon will now be taking on a British title fight elimination bout having gained an International Masters title in his last fight against Croatia’s Ivan Stupalo. Leon made it clear he wants see how far he can go in his new profession, and the result is a fight on July 4th 2015 in London against John McCullum in an eliminator for the British Super Middleweight title.

Leon had the option of adopting boxing as a teenager as his dad Clinton represented Britain at the Montreal 1976 Olympics, losing to eventual gold medal winner and all-time great Sugar Ray Leonard. He then held the British light-welterweight title during a 36-14 professional bout scorecard. In addition, Leon’s uncle Duke became a world champion at flyweight, bantamweight and super-bantamweight in the late 80s and early 90s.

Sky Blue fans will remember that Leon was signed by fellow CCFPA member Micky Adams (later to be replaced by Ian Dowie) on deadline day in August 2006 and he contributed 12 goals in 62 league appearances for CCFC from 2006-09. As well as playing for the Sky Blues Leon had spells with Crystal Palace, Fulham, Peterborough, Norwich City before making his Sky Blue debut and Charlton Athletic, Northampton Town, Luton Town and Corby Town after leaving the Ricoh. Retiring from his first professional career in 2011 after with more than 100 goals in English football under his belt Leon has therefore very successfully turned his hand to boxing under the soubriquet ‘Big McK’, very much returning to a family tradition.

Leon’s success in another professional arena further demonstrates the determination he has shown in the past in also dealing with the challenges of his own personal battle with depression which he has bravely and openly discussed in a number of articles and in his autobiography,