Michael McKinson outboxed Martin Harkin to win a 10-round unanimous decision at the Production Park Studios in Yorkshire, England.

The 26-year-old southpaw scored a scrappy first round knockdown and then dropped his off-balance opponent in the second and used his skills to build a sizable early thereafter. 

McKinson (19-0, 2 knockouts) dropped Harkin for the third time in the fifth but to the Scottish fighter’s credit he charged back to land his own shots. However, Harkin (13-1, 5 KOs) was never able to make significant inroads into McKinson who controlled the fight. McKinson claimed a wide decision: 100-88, 99-88, 97-91.

“[Harkin’s] a dangerous guy, he’s an unbeaten fighter, that’s what I do for fun, take their 0’s,” McKinson said in a post-fight interview. “Granted he ain’t Chris Kongo, Josh Kelly but I believe I can compete with them guys and that’s who I want next.

QUICK HIGHLIGHTS 👀@mikeytheproblem 🆚 Martin Harkin

FULL RESULTS & REACTION ➡️ https://t.co/mz36XJ68fV#MTKFightNight #TeamMTKGlobal #Boxing #TheProblem #MichaelMcKinson #MartinHarkin #McKinsonHarkin pic.twitter.com/I2xbwSSxPJ

— MTK Global 🌍 (@MTKGlobal) October 19, 2020

“I’m beating these guys with ease; I just want the big names. These big names they don’t want to fight me but these are the one’s I’m hungry for. I believe I’m the best welterweight in the U.K., I just want to prove it. They can’t ignore me forever.”

Undercard

Jay Harris got back to winning ways with a good 10-round unanimous decision over Marcel Braithwaite.

Harris, who gave a good account of himself in a losing effort against WBC flyweight titlist Julio Cesar Martinez in February, was the busier fighter throughout but was made to work for it in every round.

The 30-year-old Welshman was shaken by a huge left hook in the fourth but was able to gather him and mark up Braithwaite (9-3, 0 KOs) under the left-eye in an exciting encounter. Harris (18-1, 9 KOs) was a step ahead and awarded the decision on all the cards: 98-93, 97-93, 98-92.

“It’s good to have a fight like that,” Harris said in the post-fight Interview. “I don’t think I boxed 100 percent [of my capabilities]. I was a bit sluggish, I got caught with a lot of over-hand rights which I shouldn’t have really got caught with. Credit to Marcel, he was as game as they come.

“It was a good shot [in the fourth round], I felt it, it buzzed me a bit, I worked through it and composed myself and got back in the next round.

“I had to move past Marcel but I’m looking to push for world title [fights]. I have to perform better than that to mix at world level.” 

QUICK HIGHLIGHTS 👀@1PaulButler 🆚 Ryan Walker

FULL RESULTS & REACTION ➡️ https://t.co/WaYmdVZRAa#MTKFightNight #TeamMTKGlobal #Boxing #Wakefield #PaulButler #RyanWalker #ButlerWalker pic.twitter.com/4vkL6QHGhg

— MTK Global 🌍 (@MTKGlobal) October 19, 2020

Former IBF bantamweight titleholder Paul Butler (32-2, 15 KOs) returned from a 10-month hiatus to outpoint Ryan Walker (11-3, 2 KOs) over eight-rounds on referee John Latham’s sole scorecard 79-73.

Paul McCullagh made a successful professional debut knocking out Ben Thomas (2-4-3, 1 KO) in three rounds at light heavyweight

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected] and you can follow him on 

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