Ovill McKenzie will have no hard feelings if Johnny Nelson lands a fight against Marco Huck first

Ovill McKenzie insists he will have no complaints if Johnny Nelson jumps the queue of cruiserweights who are hoping to face Marco Huck.

Nelson has become a Sky Sports pundit since hanging up his gloves in 2006, but the 47-year-old recently vowed to come out of retirement for a fight with the WBO cruiserweight champion.

Huck equalled the Sheffield fighter’s record of successful title defences against Mirko Larghetti in August, with Nelson watching from ringside.

It remains to be seen if the pair will meet as the WBO have refused to sanction the bout, but McKenzie fully understands Nelson’s determination to battle the biggest name in the division. 

The 34-year-old Jamaican, who holds the British and Commonwealth titles at cruiserweight, told Sky Sports: “Me and Johnny Nelson are friends.

If he gets the opportunity, fair play to him, he can bring it back to England and me and him can fight for it

“I’m not going to get involved with politics, saying: ‘I should get the fight and he shouldn’t get the fight’.

“If he wants to go and do the job that I want to do - I want to go abroad and bring back the world title to England.

“If he gets the opportunity, fair play to him, he can bring it back to England and me and him can fight for it. It’s not a problem if he wants to do the same job that I want to do.”

McKenzie’s scheduled fight with Matty Askin this weekend has been called off after his opponent suffered an injury, but his stock has risen after stoppage wins over Tony Conquest and Jon-Lewis Dickinson.

He hopes to get past Askin in a rearranged fight next year before challenging one of the division’s world champions and Huck would be his No 1 choice.

“Yeah, that’s the one I want, Huck. That’s the one I’m after. We aren’t going to stop until we get that one,” said McKenzie.

Yeah, that’s the one I want, Huck. That’s the one I’m after. We aren’t going to stop until we get that one.

“He’s a good fighter, but he’s never faced no-one like me before. I’m faster, I’ve got the speed and I’ve got the power as well to take him out.

“It will be a good fight to watch with two big punchers. He can punch - I’m not going to lie - he can punch.”

During his career, McKenzie has earned the nickname of ‘Upsetter’, winning a Prizefighter competition against the odds, and also holds wins over Tony Dodson and Enzo Maccarinelli.

He believes his fearless attitude has helped him to pull off shock wins on his opponent’s home turf.

“I have a heart, I’m not afraid of no-one. I don’t care who you are, where you live, where you come from, I’ll come there and beat you,” said McKenzie.

“I need to prove myself as the ‘Upsetter’ – go abroad and bring a belt home. I think I will be preparing for it this time next year.”