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At 33 years of age, Dean Francis has seen both good and bad in the sport of boxing during his 13 year career. In what may be his final drive to regain a meaningful title, the heavy handed light heavyweight will challenge the reigning Commonwealth Champion Ovill McKenzie this Friday at the Marriott Hotel in Bristol, England on a Tony Hay/Bristol Boxing Academy Promotion.
Francis, 26-3 (21), started his career absolutely on fire. After just three years as a professional, the man from Basingstoke, England stopped future two time world title challenger David Starie to win the British Super Middleweight title in 1997 before annexing the European crown five months later.
But just three fights afterward, Francis saw his career decimated when he suffered a dislocated shoulder that required two operations and a two year layoff. When things couldn’t get much worse, Francis was involved in a street fight that resulted in a conviction and two year prison sentence.
Coming back after the four year layoff in 2002, Francis took a tune up fight before challenging once again for the British 168 lb title against Matthew Barney in 2003.
Unfortunately for Francis, the troublesome shoulder didn’t hold during the bout with Barney and despite dropping the difficult South Coast fighter late in the bout, “Deano” lost the contest on points.
It was two more years out of the ring before Francis returned in his latest incarnation, as a cruiserweight, to bang out four wins in his most recent outings, including a points victory a year ago over Tommy Eastwood to take the vacant English title.
Now Francis will challenge iron chinned, London based Jamaican Ovill McKenzie, 13-6 (4), tomorrow night in Bristol.
After going 5-6 in an uphill battle against stiff competition to start his pro career, McKenzie has rattled off eight consecutive victories and most recently avenged an early loss by knocking out Peter Haymer in two rounds to secure the Commonwealth Light Heavyweight title.
Promoter Tony Hay counts Francis among his stable of fighters and is expecting a stern test for the veteran but is confident that the former super middle can overcome the surging McKenzie.
“We’re calling this fight card Thunder and Lightning,” said Hay. “And there will be a war in Bristol on Friday night!”
Francis is up against a larger, younger man but Hay is confident that the greater experience of his charge will prove to be the equalizer against McKenzie.
“Dean Francis is in fantastic shape and we’re looking forward to a great win,” said Hay. “There will be snow in the Midlands, but on Friday there’ll be thunder and lightning in Bristol.”
