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
10 years ago next month ivan stupalo first 36 year old mckenzie leon mckenzie saturday york hall manchester united
leon mckenzie claimed his first title as a professional boxer on saturday  mckenzie beat ivan stupalo to win international masters belt at york hall  the 36 year old dominated the 10 round super middleweight contest  it is 10 years ago next month since he scored against manchester united 