Mikey McKinson was 'born to be on the big stage' - and he'll prove it when he faces Chris Kongo on Whyte v Povetkin II undercard

That's the forthright opinion of his trainer and father Michael Ballingall as the ‘Pompey Problem’ prepares for a huge night at Wembley Arena on Saturday, March 6.

Unbeaten welterweights McKinson and Kongo will face off for the WBO Global title on the Dillian Whyte v Alexander Povetkin II undercard in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

For McKinson, it's reward for the endless graft he's put in with a perfect professional record of 19-0 to reach this stage.

His battle of Britain with Kongo will be by far the biggest test he has faced in his pro career to date.

But Ballingall is adamant his protégé will rise to the occasion and become a household boxing name by defeating his Bermondsey-based opponent.

He said: ‘A lot of people in the street would not have heard of Michael McKinson but they’ve probably heard of Connor Benn or Chris Kongo.

‘They’ll all know who Michael McKinson is.

‘On March 6, the general public will all know who Michael McKinson is and it’ll be his first step on the major platform - and the first of many.

‘He’s very, very good at just clicking into place on the night.

‘It’s nothing new to him. You might think he might fold up on the big stage and this, that and the other.

‘Michael was made for this, he was made to do this, it’s what he was born to do.'

Kongo is a powerful fighter with seven of his 12 professional victories arriving as knockouts.

But Ballingall says facing a big-puncher is nothing new to McKinson and claims it'll be down to Kongo to find a way to overcome the tricky southpaw.

‘Whatever Chris Kongo has got to bring we will have the answer to it, like in every other fight,' Ballingall added.

‘In every other unbeaten fighter he’s boxed we’ve had the answer to everything.

‘It’s down to Chris Kongo to be able to bring something to the table that we can’t fathom.

‘One mistake and we’re back to square one and we’ll probably never get the opportunity (again).

‘Michael always comes up against big punchers and they can’t do anything - we’re used to it.'