The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After winning his fifth fight since moving to New York two years ago to push his impressive undefeated record to 13-0, light heavyweight Ryan “Big Youth” McKenzie is taking a much needed break here at home.

McKenzie, whose last fight was on March 29 when he won an unanimous six round decision over Steven Tyler at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, said he will take a two-week break, but intends to continue to workout as he is expected to get back in the ring on May 24.

“It’s easy to get out of shape, but hard to get back in shape,” he said.

McKenzie, however, said since returning home this week, he was able to catch up with a lot of his family and friends, who have been congratulating him on his performance so far. He noted that a lot of people were surprised to see him when he showed up because he didn’t inform them that he was coming.

“I haven’t seen a lot of my family, so I’m going to surprise them,” he said. “It feels good to be home. Now I can run in the sun. I don’t have to train in the Timberland boots in the snow. It’s good to be home. There’s no place like home.”

Depending on the outcome of his 14th fight on May 24 in Verona, where McKenzie has built up a reputation as a “hometown boy,” McKenzie said he’s looking at the possibility of fighting on ESPN in June.

“They’re keeping me busy. The more they keep me busy, the closer I get to retirement,” said McKenzie, who has only been fighting since 2006. “To be a Bahamian going over there and doing all what I’m doing, I’m very pleased. Bahamians have this impression that you really can’t do anything when you go away.

“But I’ve proven that you can. You just have to stay committed to what you are doing. I go out and jog everyday and I’m in the gym training so I know what I have to do. I dedicate myself to what I have to do. I eat right, go to bed on time and keep training. Everything I do, I just go out and do a little more.”

Although he’s laid back in a community of just around 5,000 people in Verona, McKenzie said he tries to stay away from all of the social ills to avoid falling into a pitfall that could ruin his life.

“If you do it right the first time, you won’t have to do it a second time,” he said. “Perfection is another thing for me.”

That is what has enabled him to remain undefeated.

“To be undefeated, is just remarkable, especially for me,” McKenzie said. “After First Class Promotions went down, I wasn’t really doing anything here. So when I got the call from Tony Graciano to go to New York, I really didn’t hesitate because I knew it was better than not doing anything here.

“I chose to keep myself in shape and it all worked out for me. Who knows what I would have been doing if I had stayed here. But that was my dream. I just stuck with it. I want to thank Tony. We have a good relationship outside of boxing. He’s been in boxing for over 60 years. He had two world champions back in the day.”

One day, McKenzie is hoping that he can bring a world title to the city of Verona and more importantly, the Bahamas, which he proudly displays whenever he steps into the ring to compete.

“I get to meet a lot of people because there’s a restaurant right where I stay,” he said. “So I try to treat everybody right from the hospitality that I learn while I was working in the hotel at Riu on Paradise Island. It’s all about marketing yourself. And so far, I think I’ve done that with my performance in the ring.”

His perfect record has certainly earned him the right to boast and brag about his achievement.