Chris Kongo: I’m going to knock Michael McKinson out

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Chris Kongo is predicting a knockout victory over Michael McKinson tomorrow night.

The 28-year-old from Bermondsey has won all 12 professional fights and puts his WBO Global welterweight title on the line. He picked up the belt with a classy stoppage of Luther Clay in August.

Now Matchroom Boxing have given Kongo – who contemplated quitting the sport due to a lack of opportunities – another big platform to impress in Gibraltar on the Dillian Whyte-Alexander Povetkin undercard.

Portsmouth’s McKinson is 19-0.

“I want to prove I am the best in the division,” said Kongo. “I’m sure this will be a better performance [than Clay] because that was after 16 months out.

Kongo has previously talked about a lucrative domestic clash with Conor Benn, the son of British ring great Nigel.

“I’ll be looking for that fight but right now I’ve only got one person on my mind and that’s Michael McKinson,” said Kongo, who is a big Millwall fan. “After that we can get on with who we want to fight next.”

McKinson, 26, has boxed 76 more rounds than the South Londoner in the paid ranks. But Kongo had a strong amateur career, excelling for Lynn ABC.

“I believe I knock him out,” said Kongo, who debuted in the paid ranks in 2016. “It could be early or it could be late.

“The main thing I know is that I can hold my power to the late rounds. McKinson will go down, for sure.”

PHOTO: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM BOXING