Leon McKenzie , the Premier League striker turned delivery driver , added another chapter to his remarkable story as he won his first title as a professional boxer by claiming the international masters belt at the iconic York Hall . It was 10 years ago next month that McKenzie scored for Norwich in a famous 2-0 win over Manchester United at Carrow Road . It has been a decade of ups and downs since for 'Big McK ' , who endured crippling depression which culminated in a suicide attempt in a Bexleyheath hotel room . But , in boxing , the former Premier League star has found redemption and has been building to this moment since turning professional in June 2013 . And , after making a living from taking his chances on the pitch , McKenzie did not let this one pass . Leon McKenzie poses after winning his first title as a professional boxer by at the iconic York Hall . McKenzie won his first title as a professional boxer by claiming the international masters belt . The soon-to-be 37-year-old dominated Croatian fighter Ivan Stupalo during Saturday night 's victory . The 36-year- dominated the 10-round super-middleweight contest against Croatian Ivan Stupalo , winning ever round on referee Marcus McDonnell 's card , to claim the strap which makes him the mandatory for the southern area title . He said : 'Look at how far I 've come . If you look where I was five years ago , I 'm lucky to even be here . I want to thank my team , this is a journey not just about me but about so many other people . I want to thank God – this is my second chance , my second career . 'It was my first 10 rounder and I enjoyed it in there . I had to be cautious , I had to move around and use my jab . I stuck to the game plan and now I 've got this belt and the journey continues . I 'm 37 in May – how many 37-year-olds do you know who could do that ? ' Former footballer McKenzie celebrates his win with his family at the Iconic York Hall on Saturday night . Boxing talent McKenzie has made the venue is home having fought all but one of his fights there . Boxing talent is very much in the blood for McKenzie . His father Clinton , his trainer and cornerman here at York Hall , is a former British and European light-welterweight champion . His uncle Duke , meanwhile , remains Britain 's only modern three-weight world champion . In fact his father made his professional debut in this very ring in Bethnal Green in October 1976 . Then , in 1981 , Clinton won his British title here too . It was also a happy hunting ground for uncle Duke , who won both of his fights in this famous corner of the East End . Now Croydon-born McKenzie has made this his home with all but one of his previous fights happening here while his opponent was beaten on his only other outing here , when he challenged Andreas Evangelou for the vacant international masters light-heavyweight title . Mckenzie wins his first title in the ring at York Hall and gives his mum a hug as his Dad Clinton looks on . Stupalo , of Split , has since dropped down seven pounds to the super-middleweight division and represented a real step up in class for McKenzie , who , for the first time , was facing an opponent with a winning record . But operating from behind his stiff southpaw jab , McKenzie dominated a cagey first round and occasionally found a home for his straight left to body . He maintained a composed pace in the second , evading Stupalo 's rare forward forays . McKenzie forced the Croatian on to the ropes and ran out with a deserved 100-90 points victory . In the fifth , McKenzie began to let his hands go and opened up a cut on his opponent 's head with intelligent use of his backhand . It was not until the seventh road that Stupalo got through , but McKenzie just flashed a grin and got back to his business . By the eighth the man from Croatia was spending a lot of time on the ropes but McKenzie was unable to find a finishing blow and instead ran out with a deserved 100-90 points victory . The fight was part of a Goodwin Boxing Promotion shown live and exclusive on Matchroom Fight Pass .
Leon McKenzie claimed his first title as a professional boxer on Saturday . The former world champion was knocked out in the eighth round by American Anthony Joshua after being hit with two power shots to the head.