Forging a career in one sport professionally is something only a small percentage of people are talented enough to do. So to burst into the boxing world after spending two decades as a footballer is quite an impressive feat.
That's exactly what former Premier League ace Leon McKenzie did. The Croydon-born athlete started his career with boyhood club Crystal Palace, breaking into the first team from the youth academy.
More than 20 years after making his senior debut for The Eagles, McKenzie was pulling on gloves and stepping into the boxing ring. It was hardly a surprise to see him step into the family business. After all, he is the son of former British and European super-lightweight titlist Clinton McKenzie and nephew of three-weight world champion Duke McKenzie.
Leon McKenzie
Perhaps the height of McKenzie's career in football came during his time as a Premier League player with Norwich City. Having come through the ranks at Selhurst Park, the forward became somewhat of a journeyman, moving around various English clubs.
Boasting the likes of Peterborough United, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic on his CV, McKenzie made a name for himself at some historic English clubs. The highlights of his time in the English top-flight came when he netted goals against Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea.
Speaking to Boxing News, the now 47-year-old claimed he had no regrets about choosing football over boxing at a young age. He explained:
"I started playing football at eight years old. I grew to love it, and things just took off for me really. I signed for Crystal Palace [aged 15], and had to make a decision between football and boxing, and I chose football. I don’t regret the choice I made, because I had 18 good, solid years at the top level as a footballer."
Personal Struggles Away From the Pitch
Leon McKenzie
Life hasn't always been easy for McKenzie. In 2012, he was sentenced to six months in prison as he admitted to six charges of perverting the course of justice. The retired football ace sent letters to police, pretending to be from a fictional garage, to avoid paying speeding fines.
This came during a time of severe depression, which McKenzie has spoken openly about many times. While playing for Charlton in the 2009-10 season, he attempted to take his own life due to the loneliness of being away from his wife and child. Speaking about the harrowing experience, McKenzie told The Guardian:
"I couldn’t cope any more and wanted to end it all, literally tried to. My family came to the hospital and to see them all crying with me in that state, it wasn’t nice for me. But the next day I went to training, I tried to forget about what happened and get on with being a footballer."
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He admitted to being 'scared' about spending time in jail. Mckenzie was in prison with some seriously dangerous people, although he says he had plenty of 'respect' due to his time as a football player.
"I was so scared. I went into an A-category prison with murderers, rapists and paedophiles. I’m sharing a cell with these people – you think, really? But it is what it is. I went in there for a reason. The funny thing is I had so much respect in there. As a footballer I had some of the baddest people coming in and talking to me. One guy said: ‘I murdered seven people. What did you do?’"
Explaining what led him to the 'stupid' mistake that landed him in hot water, he continued: "I’d never been in trouble with the law. I made a mistake, I was stupid. I’m sure a lot of people have done that. But because I was in a high-profile sport I was made an example of. When you are depressed you don’t always think straight. You’re in a deep, isolated place."
Step Into Boxing and Potential KSI Fight
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After hanging up his boots, McKenzie turned professional in boxing in 2013. In an impressive four-year stint in the sport, he retired with an 8-2-1 record.
The super-middleweight went undefeated in his first nine bouts, becoming the International masters champion along the way. He announced his retirement in 2017 after suffering back-to-back defeats.
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"As much as people like to talk about my age and the football, boxing runs much deeper than that for me, I have deep spiritual connection to boxing and that's what enables me to do what I'm doing," was the response 'Big McK' gave to those doubting him as a 35-year-old doubting his ability to become a boxer.
As recently as 2025, McKenzie was still considering a return to the ring. At one point, he was put forward as a potential replacement for Wayne Bridge to fight YouTuber KSI.
"A few days went past, but we had some direct contact. But they have come back and said they have other plans," he told talkSPORT.
"KSI's team, they are businessmen and all about the numbers and making money, while doing the best for their cash cow. You have to respect that to a certain degree, but it is probably best not to entertain it."