Mikey McKinson sees Chris Kongo fight date change and venue switch from London to Gibraltar as a 'positive‘

Mikey McKinson is happy with an extra three weeks of training ahead of next month's title fight with Chris Kongo. Photo by James Chance/Getty Images.

The ‘Pompey Problem's’ bout with the Bermondsey-based welterweight WBO Global title holder has been put back three weeks to Saturday, March 27.

It came after Matchroom's top promoter Eddie Hearn announced Dillian Whyte v Alexander Povetkin II - where McKinson is fighting on the undercard - had been switched from March 6 and Wembley Arena to Gibraltar because of Covid-19 travel problems.

Initially, Pompey's leading boxing light had accepted to face Kongo for the WBO Global belt at just six weeks notice.

But McKinson, with a perfect 19-0 professional record, believes an additional period of preparation time is only going to benefit him as he gets set for the biggest night of his career on a card which now boasts the tagline ‘Rumble on the Rock’.

And the fact it's taking place in Gibraltar - his first bout outside of the UK and live on Sky Sports Box Office - is only an added incentive for the skilful southpaw.

McKinson said: ‘I think the three-week extension, I’m only looking at it as a positive.

‘They gave me six weeks notice, we knew we weren’t going to get a 10-week camp or something like that, which I’d have liked.

‘Six weeks was enough because I haven’t had six weeks to prepare for the biggest fight of my life, I’ve had 26 years.

‘We hit it hard over the last four weeks but now, with the extension, it just gives a little bit more to pace it a little bit better.

‘I’m really happy. I would have wanted this sort of timeframe to prepare anyway.

‘I see it as a positive - 100 per cent.'

McKinson insisted preparation so far could not have gone any better as he bids to inflict a first pro defeat on 12-0 Kongo.

He admitted his past four weeks of work have been 'amazing' building up to the fight and he has taken things to the 'next level'.

‘In terms of my sparring, I’ve had great sparring, I’ve worked very hard over the past four weeks,’ McKinson continued.

‘My nutrition has gone to the next level, everything is on point really, a lot better than it has been ever before.

‘Preparation has gone amazing.

‘Every boxer is going to say that for the biggest fight of their life but, genuinely, I’ve taken things to the next level.'