Michael McKinson suffers 'Problem' in Nigeria over weight dispute
Michael McKinson suffers a further setback after an avoidable misunderstanding over weight
Former world title challenger Michael McKinson (27-2, 4KO) has been dealt another blow to his stuttering career, whilst being scheduled to fight on Balmoral Group Promotion’s ‘Chaos in the Ring’ on Friday, May 1 against unbeaten prospect Mohammed Sahnoun (8-0, 6KO).
Portsmouth's Michael McKinson has had a turbulent career to date, despite having won both the WBO Global and European titles, a trio of WBC regional belts, and challenged for the IBO World championship, all at welterweight.
Recently, the 32-year-old has struggled with periods of inactivity and multiple fight cancellations since 2020.
The southpaw was all set to fight undefeated Algerian, Mohammed Sahnoun, in Lagos, on May 1, his first fight since 2024, but now that fight has been disappointingly being pulled from the event, and a replacement opponent is now being finalised for the Englishman.
McKinson’s first bout cancellation of his career came after being slated to fight Medway's Louis Greene in 2020, with the second occurring in 2022 against Vergil Ortiz Jr., the current WBC Interim Super-Welterweight champion. Ortiz’s replacement opponent was then Jesus Antonio Perez, who was forced to pull out as an opponent for the Briton due to weight issues. The latest cancellation has now come against Sahnoun.
When speaking exclusively to British Boxing News, ‘The Problem’ McKinson revealed, regarding his upcoming scrap, that his opponent and their team had a misunderstanding about weight, with both fighters agreeing to a 150lbs catchweight, despite Sahnoun believing the fight would be a 147lbs contest.
"So there was a misunderstanding in terms of weight agreements," McKinson attempted to explain. "We both signed a contract eight weeks ago for 150lbs limit. I weighed 150lbs (in the contract), he weighed 146lbs, thinking he had only to be 147lbs."
Post weigh-in drama then occurred, with the Algerian’s team attempting to force a rehydration clause upon the Brit and to change the fight to an eight-rounder with no title on the line.
"Him and his team kicked up a fuss and tried saying I had to do a rehydration clause for tomorrow (after the weigh in), for a eight-round non title fight!" he exclaimed with incredulity.
The ‘Goat Mido’ Sahnoun promptly pulled out, leaving the Pompey pugilist without an opponent. According to McKinson though, a replacement opponent has been arranged, thankfully.
On Sahnoun’s side, McKinson officially weighed in at 68.1kg, with the local WBC Youth World champion weighing in at 66.3kg. The difference in weight was supposedly due to a ‘contractual misunderstanding’, which we now know is due to the Algerian’s team not doing their due diligence. ‘
Sahnoun then claimed that McKinson and his team were offered to fight with a rehydration clause, with ‘Mikey’ not being allowed to exceed 72kg on fight day, to which McKinson flatly declined.
McKinson added, "I think they showed a little bit of an inexperienced team by not studying the contract, and immaturity on the demands and how they acted. So they pulled out.
"I made weight, did my job perfectly. So they have said they’ve found a replacement. The show goes on."
After all these issues though, Michael is still due to make his long-awaited, deserved return to the ring and feature on the Balmoral Group Promotions show tonight in Nigeria, in a stay-busy fight against an unconfirmed opponent.
This card also features a battle of identical records with Englishman Joe Laws (15-4, 5KO) who faces off against Ghana's Elvis Ahorgah (15-4, 13KO) - a fan favourite and former opponent of Callum Simpson.
