Michael McKinson’s career took a significant step forward as he got reward for a fast start by claiming a unanimous decision over Chris Kongo in a clash of unbeaten world-ranked welterweights on the Whyte-Povetkin undercard in Gibraltar.

Much of the fight was a cagey affair, but McKinson, the WBO’s No 6, started fast and scored a knockdown in the first round. That made an already cautious Kongo – the WBO’s No 13 – even more nervous and it wasn’t until the mid rounds that he had any success. 

“I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” a delighted McKinson said. “This is my 20th fight and I am finally on the big stage. 

“There were a lot of close rounds where he was just touching my gloves and he could have nicked the rounds. We had to change it up towards the end.  

“Chris is a very dangerous fighter and I had to stay switched on the whole time. But I am experienced. This is my seventh year as a professional, I’m final where I want to be and I want to stay here.” 

While Kongo looked to find his range, McKinson had a lightning start, rushing in and catching Kongo with a double left hand early on, then repeating the trick and dropping Kongo on his backside.  

If Kongo was already being circumspect, the first round made him even more so. In the second he just prodded out as jab that fell well short and all the action was prompted by McKinson, who mostly kept out of range, but then flew in at Kongo when he attacked, landing another good left hook. 

Kongo began the fourth round intent on pressing the pace more, but after being caught by an early left-right combination, he got McKinson to walk into a good left hook. The fifth turned into a cagey affair, although McKinson landed a good left hand right on the bell. The sixth and seventh went better for Kongo, who controlled what little action there was, although he struggled to land on the elusive McKinson. 

But McKinson got through with a good right hook at the start of the eighth round as he pressed Kongo more and as the action started to heat up, McKinson was the one landing with his left hand and, during the ninth round, he pinned Kongo in the corner is the best exchange. 

There was a complete lack of urgency in the final round, as McKinson began to mirror Kongo’s habit of raising his arm whenever a punch landed. But Kongo’s lack of output would cost him dear. 

All three judges, Ian John Lewis, Victor Loughlin and Mark Lyson, sided with McKinson, by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-94 respectively. John Latham was the referee. 

Campbell Hatton, the 20-year-old son of two-weight world champion Ricky, made a successful professional debut, but was taken the four-round distance by Jesus Ruiz, of Spain, at lightweight. Hatton whacked away at Ruiz from the opening bell and scored particularly well to the body, but he could not knock the resistance out of Ruiz. Referee Victor Loughlin scored it 40-36. 

Ron Lewis is a senior writer for BoxingScene. He was Boxing Correspondent for The Times, where he worked from 2001-2019 - covering four Olympic Games and numerous world title fights across the globe. He has written about boxing for a wide variety of publications worldwide since the 1980s.