The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

RYAN ‘Big Youth’ McKenzie, who had three impressive victories to keep his undefeated record alive last year, will open up the new year with his first professional boxing match tonight at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.

McKenzie, who left town to pursue his pro boxing career under the management of TKO Promotions, will take on Rayshawn Myers in a four-round bout in the cruiserweight division on the undercard of ESPN Friday Night Fights.

“Things are looking pretty good. Things are looking real good,” said McKenzie in an interview with The Tribune yesterday. “I’m feeling pretty good, so I’m looking forward to this fight. It’s not televised, but I still expect to go in there and put on a good show because eventually I want to be fighting on live television.”

Although he hasn’t fought since his six round unanimous decision over Eric Watkins at the same venue on October 27, 2012, McKenzie said he has stayed in the gym training hard and running on the road. He was hampered a bit by the flu, but after getting some needed rest, he said he is back at full strength and ready to go.

“I’m just been sticking in the gym and being focused,” he said.

As he prepares for Myers, who comes in at 4-15 with one draw, McKenzie said he’s not taking anything for granted.

“We’re fighting at a catch weight, which is about 170 pounds, so this fight is only going to be four rounds because of time constraints, but I’m taking it as serious as if it’s one of the six or eight round fights that I had. I just want another win because every fight is another step closer to achieving your goal.

“So eventually I want to get a title shot and this is just another step in that direction.”

Myers, by the way, lost eight out of the last nine fights he had. The other fight saw him finish with a draw.

With the impression that he had last year, McKenzie said he’s hoping to build on it. He doesn’t want Myers to ruin his potential for this year.

“The main thing is to stay focus,” he said. “I’m taking it one fight at a time and I’m going in there to do what I usually do, which is to out-box my opponent or take him out if I can. So I’m looking forward to another good year in boxing. Things are looking pretty good.”

The six-foot McKenzie already has another fight lined up on ESPN Friday Night Fights on February 22, which is going be eight rounds on television, so he’s hoping to go into tonight’s fight and give it all he got to prepare for the next fight. He said his coach is getting him ready for the long haul.

“Right after this fight, it’s back to the gym to start training again,” he said. “We’re going to be ready for this fight. I’m in good shape.”