Exclusive Boxing Interview: Angel McKenzie

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

SaddoBoxing.com caught up with Female Boxer Angel McKenzie this week. Angel is fighting for the WFC Welterweight Title in Germany on the 4th June. She faces Jessica ‘The Hammer’ Balogun of Germany.

Balogun has a record of 14 wins (7 by KO) with just 1 loss. This will be her third defence of the title she won in September last year. Russian-born Angel ‘The Artist’ McKenzie has a 4 win 18 loss (2 by KO) record but keeps herself busy with contests during the year.

Angel took time out to answer some questions.

SaddoBoxing: Who trains you and where have you been training?

Angel McKenzie: “I’m blessed with my trainer Clinton McKenzie, ex British & European Champion. It is not just technical and everyday routine, it is the knowledge of life. Sometimes we just sit and talk about life not just boxing.

“Boxers – we are different creatures, like we’ve come from a different planet and normal life treats us differently. So I’m lucky with Clinton with whom I can share my thoughts; normal people do not understand me much.

“I’ve been training in different locations – my gym in Norwood SE London, in Hatton’s Gym in Manchester, Pancras ABA club and running in the high altitude Italian mountains.

“You asked ‘Where you’ve been training?’ I’ll tell you the truth, sometimes I’m training in my dreams and I woke up tired like I just done a session. It is amazing. I like those dreams and sometimes I even spar there. Recently I got a strange sparring partner – Joe Calzaghe – that was cool.

SB: How has your training gone for this fight?

AM: “I changed my boxing style and transformed it into art. I’ve been watching lots of boxing from old times – when boxing was art – it is still art now but it seems to me that nowadays boxing more close to fighting.

“There’s old saying, ‘Everyone can fight but not everyone can box’, so it seems to me that now I’ve become that ‘not everyone’. Also they are saying that ‘boxing is ballet with gloves’ before I couldn’t understand that expression and was laughing. Now I’ve got it. I changed my legs routine, legs are very important in boxing, it is all about movement. Now I can say, ‘catch me if you can.’

SB: Who have you sparred with?

AM: “Laura Saperstein, some amateur boys from my gym, my trainer Clinton McKenzie, Tony Owen, a professional boxer in our gym I think he is going to be next Ricky Hatton, Maxine McCarthy – a new prospect from Manchester”.

SB: What do you know about your opponent?

AM: “Her name is Jessica Balogun. I saw one fight of her on you tube and got some words from people who fought her. She comes into you and hits from different angles. I’m very confident that I can not just beat her but outbox too.”

SB: When will you be arriving in Germany ?

AM: “3d June, I hope the Iceland Volcano will understand my importance of being in Germany in time.”

SB: This is the first title you have challenged for, except for the Latvia title. I imagine it is the biggest fight of your career so far? What will it mean to you to win this fight?

AM: “It was funny in Latvia , I didn’t know it is a title fight till I heard the MC announced it in the ring. Last time I was fighting for a title was in Kenya for the WIBF, February this year with Conjestina Achieng.

“It was a bit scary, she was big and heavy, the diameter of her arms was the diameter of my legs. I don’t know why I did that fight but I survived all 10 rounds. And it was great!”

SB: You were on the TV program Big Brother – has this helped your boxing career?

AM: “Big Brother was great experience, it changed me. After Big Brother I was a bit frustrated and didn’t know what to do with my life. I quit my old job and opened my own personal training company, ‘Gym On Wheels’. And it was a great direction because now I have more free time and can spend more time with boxing.

“Before I used to work a lot – 8 hours per day and not so much time for things i love – like boxing. I truly believe my relationship with Big Brother is not over yet, there’s more to come.”

SB: What is your ‘dream’ goal?

AM: “To become a world champion and make a movie about female boxing like ‘Million Dollar Baby’ but cooler. We’ve already got a screenplay here, just waiting for some money and we can start the action”.

SB: What do you do in your spare time?

AM: “I’m not just a boxer – it is just one side of me. I’m an artist, that’s how i was born and became a boxer later. I’m preparing for my big London Exhibition in Shoreditich in Blackall Gallery.”