Michael McKinson is treating Saturday’s showdown with Vergil Ortiz Jr as his own world title fight.
The British welterweight takes on the highly rated world title contender, live on DAZN, at Dickies Arena, Fort Worth with a life changing opportunity at stake.
McKinson goes in as the huge 8/1 underdog against the 1/20 favourite but told Ade Oladipo he has earned the right to take on someone of the calibre of Ortiz.
“I deserve to be fighting Vergil Ortiz.”
“The surreal thing is I’ve been at the bottom where I’m struggling to sell tickets to do four, six rounders at the beginning of my career, not getting paid to fight, to where I am now. That’s surreal, the journey I’ve been on.”
“I always knew I was good enough. I always believed in my hard work. Its took a little bit longer to get where I am than most people, but I deserve to be here. I’m not shocked.”
Ortiz Jr v McKinson on Saturday night is a rearranged fight fixture following its postponement in March due to health complications suffered by the American.
McKinson still fought on the March 19 show and took on late, late replacement Alex Martin who was duly beaten over 10 rounds.
Five months on and the Portsmouth southpaw believes Ortiz will be facing a different animal come Saturday night.
“They should have got me in March.”
“I’m a completely different fighter. I’m much more developed, there’s been lots of improvements made.”
“Altogether I’ve had six months to prepare for Vergil Ortiz. I’m happy, I’m confident, I’m well prepared. This is my world title.”