Michael McKinson

Bio

Right then. Michael McKinson — known to British boxing fans as "The Problem" — is one of the most stylistically frustrating welterweights of his generation. The Portsmouth southpaw is 23-1 with only two knockouts, and yet he's been in with Vergil Ortiz Jr (the lone defeat), and has been in and around the world title scene since 2022.

He doesn't punch hard — he never has — but he uses his height, his angles, his jab and his ring IQ to make life miserable for naturally bigger and harder-punching opponents. He's been compared stylistically to a left-handed Pernell Whitaker, which is generous, but you understand the comparison when you watch him work.

On May 1 in Lagos, McKinson returns from 14 months out of the ring to face unbeaten Algerian Mohammed Sahnoun on the Amir Khan Promotions DAZN card. It's a statement fight, a comeback fight, and a real test all at once. Win and he's back in the welterweight contender mix. Lose, and we may be looking at the end of the road for The Problem.