Chris Kongo expecting top-10 ranking with WBO after taking care of Michael McKinson next month

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Chris Kongo reckons a win over Michael McKinson next month will propel him into the top-10 of the WBO rankings in the welterweight division.

The 28-year-old Bermondsey boxer is already rated 13th by the governing body and holds their Global title.

Kongo and McKinson put their unbeaten records on the line on March 6 on the undercard to Dillian Whyte’s rematch with Alexander Povetkin – the pair have 31 wins between them.

The South Londoner (12-0) is looking to build on an impressive dismantling of Luther Clay in August which ended 16 months out of the ring – a frustrating delay due to bouts falling through and also switching his management team so that he is now represented by leading Brixton heavyweight Whyte.

“I’m hoping for three fights this year and I don’t want them to be easy,” said Kongo. “I want all hard fights, that is going to bring the best out of me and push me up the ratings.

“McKinson is technically better than Luther Clay, but I believe Clay is the stronger and more aggressive fighter.

“You’ve also got to remember I came back from 16 months away to knock out a guy like that. In my heart I thought it would go the distance, because I’d been out so long and it was my first time doing 10 rounds. Everyone was telling me not to take the fight because he had been active and I hadn’t. But I still took the fight – a big risk.

“He [McKinson] is a mover. He’s going to be boxing on the back foot. But the guys he has boxed haven’t been smart enough to be able to track him down.

“He knows I’ve got the brains to do that. He knows I’m very smart. I believe I get the knockout in this fight and my name will be right up there as one of the best in the UK.”

McKinson is sixth in the WBO ratings. The Portsmouth man has 19 straight wins – but only two by stoppage.

“I’m not surprised he is ranked higher [with the governing body] because he has been active and fighting while I’ve been out,” said Kongo. “If I win then 100 per cent I will crack the top-10, I should even take his position.

“My preparation has been good. I’m definitely getting the better sparring. I’m sparring someone who is currently a world champion, that’s all I’m going to say.”

Whyte has a number of fighters who he is mentoring and that includes exciting Walworth cruiserweight Richard Riakporhe and fellow heavyweight Fabio Wardley.

“I signed a management deal with Dillian,” said Kongo. “He is only ever a phone call away, I can call whenever I need advice on anything.

“I had lots of pullouts before Clay. I was supposed to have at least three fights before that, but they never happened. I was also sorting out my managerial contracts. If someone can’t do the job then someone else has to do it for them, which is why I joined up with Dillian.”

Kongo is confident that Whyte will make it revenge – rather than repeat – when he steps back in the ring with Povetkin.

Whyte was comfortably ahead on points before a huge uppercut felled him for the full count on the same show as Kongo took care of Clay.

“He was winning the fight easily the first time and I don’t see why he can’t win this one within a couple of rounds,” said Kongo. “He just needs to be smart and watch out for Povetkin’s signature move – which is probably the left hook to the body and left uppercut.”

PHOTO: MARK ROBINSON.MATCHROOM BOXING