Michael McKinson says Vergil Ortiz Jr has shown vulnerabilities and insists he has the ability to inflict a first defeat on the American.
McKinson, who is ranked at three with the WBO travels to the USA to face fellow undefeated welterweight and the number one contender with the WBO, Ortiz Jr on March 19 on DAZN, at a venue and location to be determined.
The Brit takes a step-up in class against the highly touted 23-year-old and despite accepting he has never faced anyone of his level, ‘The Problem’ says he is fully capable of producing an upset.
“I’m jumping up levels to fight Vergil Ortiz,” McKinson told proboxing-fans.com.
“I’m a realist, it’s a mountain to climb as I keep saying, but it’s also a fight that I know I can win.
“He has shown vulnerabilities. Look back at 21 Michael McKinson fights and try and find a fight where I’ve been rocked, try and find a fight where I haven’t held a shot well or I’ve looked in trouble, you won’t be able to.
“I’ve never shown vulnerabilities. I’ve had poor performances, but I’ve never been in trouble, I’ve never shown flaws or things like that, he has at a higher level, but he has.
“So that just shows that I deserve this fight. At the level I’ve been fighting at, it’s been too easy.”
Ortiz Jr extended his fearsome record to 18 straight wins with as many knockouts after halting former world title challenger, Egidijus Kavaliauskas in August and has since left trainer, Robert Garcia and has reportedly linked-up with Eddy Reynoso.
McKinson, who had a breakout win over Chris Kongo in March, comfortably saw off Przemyslaw Runowski in August and feels his opponent hasn’t yet encountered a fighter with as much belief as him.
“You’ve never seen Vergil Ortiz in with someone as confident as me, as fresh as me,” the 27-year-old added.
“You’ve never seen Vergil Ortiz in with someone unbeaten and the level I’ve been fighting at is lower than the level Ortiz has been fighting at, granted, but the guys I’ve been fighting couldn’t hit me with a handful of confetti.
“I’m very slippery, I’m very smart, I’m very awkward and I know I need to be all of these things x10 to beat Ortiz, but I really do believe and know I can pull this off.
“I’ve got all the ability, all the capabilities, I’ve got the mindset to do it and like I say I’m excited for this opportunity and for this challenge.”
Watch the full interview with Michael McKinson below:
