Victor Ramirez vs. Ovill McKenzie: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream & TV Info

Victor Emilio Ramirez and late replacement Ovill McKenzie will face off in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the IBF cruiserweight title on the line.

Ramirez will have home advantage as he looks to defend the belt for the first time. He became the interim champion by beating Ola Afolabi in April and was then elevated to full titleholder when Yoan Pablo Hernandez pulled out.

McKenzie (25-12, 13 KOs) accepted the opportunity to step in and fight for a major belt on short notice.

Born in Jamaica but now living in Derby, England, The Upsetter will be hoping he can live up to his nickname at Villa La Nata Sporting Club.

When: Friday, October 2, 10 p.m. (local) / 9 p.m. ET / 2 a.m. (Saturday) BST

Where: Villa La Nata Sporting Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina

TV: BoxNation (UK)

Live Stream: BoxNation (UK, regional restrictions apply)

Home Favourite

Ramirez (22-2, 17 KOs) was set to face previous champion Hernandez on the same date, but the German-based Cuban was ruled out because of an injury.

Now, instead of challenging for the title, Ramirez finds himself with the chance to enjoy a home coronation against a stand-in.

The 31-year-old from Buenos Aires has been in this situation before. He was the interim WBO champion back in 2009, after the belt was vacated by David Haye, before being promoted to full status.

His reign came to an end at the hands of German Marco Huck in what would be his last fight for a four-year period.

Ramirez returned in December 2013 and has since reeled off seven wins on the spin.

While short on size (he is 5’7”), he’s big on power. His knockout ratio is an impressive 68 percent, though he had to climb off the canvas twice in the first round to stop Deon Elam last October.

However, he showed he can also go the distance by beating the durable Afolabi on points his last time out.

Ready to Roll 

ANDREW YATES/Getty Images

Taking a fight at short notice is nothing new for McKenzie.

He told Gareth A. Davies of the Telegraph, “This is a lot of time for me—11 days. Normally it’s two days notice. That’s why my record is the way it is. I usually fight on two or three days notice.”

While the lack of preparation time might not be ideal for the challenger, this was an opportunity that was too good to turn down.

The 35-year-old has not had it easy in or out of the ring, including growing up on the streets in Jamaica. 

Boxing was an afterthought, but he told Dev Trehan of Sky Sports that it now affords him the chance to help not just himself but also his family:

"

I don't want my kids to have to grow up the hard way like I did. I want to set a nice foundation for them so they don't have to suffer like me.

God gave me the opportunity to be a boxer. I could never have imagined I would be fighting for a world title when I was growing up on the streets.

But I knew I wanted the world to know me. I wanted people to know my name, I wanted people to know who Ovill McKenzie is.

"

On paper, his record suggests he shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for Ramirez.

However, McKenzie is a tough nut that will take some cracking. Dean Francis knocked him out inside two minutes in 2007, but he lasted 20 rounds in two bouts against Tony Bellew at light heavyweight.

He is now the British and Commonwealth champion at the 200-pound limit and is fresh off a two-round demolition of Janne Forsman in July.

Prediction

Ramirez is the obvious choice when it comes to picking a winner. He is on home turf, and he is on an impressive unbeaten streak.

But McKenzie is a 5-1 underdog, per Odds Shark, and he should not be underestimated.

He has the ability to change fights with one punch, and his height advantage (McKenzie is 6’0”) should help him stay out of range long enough to make the bout interesting.

However, travelling on short notice makes it difficult to see anything other than a Ramirez victory, most likely via a stoppage in the second half of the bout.