Among the hype and expectation set to fill Sydney’s Horden Pavilion when Daniel Geale takes on Garth Wood for the IBF Pan Pacific Middleweight Title, one little-known Gunnedah fighter will be taking centre stage for the undercard fight of his life.
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Former Gunnedah pugilist Kye MacKenzie, who is now based Sydney, will step up in weight to fight fellow professional Addisu Tebebu.
“For me, if I get the win, it will be a dream come true,” the softly spoken 21-year-old said.
Late last year MacKenzie won the Australian Super Featherweight Title after taking
down Roberto Oyan in the third round.
Now he is raring to go again but this time on the undercard of two of Australia’s boxing best in Geale and Wood on February 19.
But Tebebu is no slouch despite Sportingbet pinning MacKenzie as a heavy $1.22 favourite.
Tebebu, a former light welterweight champion, is a long $4 chance but that’s cold comfort for MacKenzie who understands the importance of the high-profile bout.
“It’s going to be a big night, televised on MainEvent and everything,” he said.
The rising star moved early to sign up Joel ‘Aussie’ Brunker as his sparing partner.
Brunker, an internationally recognised boxer and 2004 Summer Olympic Games contender, has been MacKenzie’s voice of experience in the weeks leading up to his next fight.
“Sparing with Joel, it’s been a good grounding for me,” MacKenzie said.
He has also sparred with Wood on occasion and warned the superstar was on the cusp of something big.
“He (Wood) is gonna surprise a lot of people in Australia,” he said.
Looking further ahead, MacKenzie has also set a tentative
date in April to defend his national title.
He thanked his family and friends in Gunnedah for their continued support and particularly his sponsor, Whitehaven Coal.
