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Inspirational celebrities sharing their stories Duke McKenzie MBE Nicky Clarke OBE Kristina Rihanoff DukeEXPERT PROFILE MAGAZINE Mckenzie MBE EXPERT PROFILE MAGAZINE

a career I look back on with pride.” preparing for a fight, you’re in the zone, with total focus. It is In 1995 Duke experienced his in between fights when most most significant challenge and the boxers struggle with their minds lowest moment of his life, when and thoughts,” explained Duke. his brother and mentor Dudley Boxing has taught Duke so much committed suicide at the age of about life inside and outside thirty-three, something Duke still the ring, and after he hung up finds difficult to cope with. At the the gloves, he decided to give same time, he was going through something back. Duke opened a divorce, financial problems and a boxing gym, called the ‘Duke ended up losing his home. He Box’ a place where he could describes that period in his life influence and support the next as the worst, and mentally in an generations. Duke said, “it’s not “It is in between fights awful place. merely a gym to learn how to box, but an environment that teaches when most boxers Duke talks openly about his life skills, the odds of becoming struggles with his mind following a professional boxer is low, but struggle with their the ordeal of losing his brother. with the right education, we can “I felt lost and alone, at times prepare our next generations with minds and thoughts.” didn’t know if I could carry on, but the tools to succeed in life. despite all the mental struggles I knew I had to find a way through Today, Duke dedicates most of it.” He explained, “You can have his time in the gym training and all the talent in the world, but supporting youngsters. He talked if your mind isn’t in the right about how he sees himself in The term ‘legend’ is often used loosely in the world of even during his boxing career he remained respectful place, you’ve got no chance of them and how nothing gives him sport. How can you justify calling someone a legend, to his opponents and kept his dignity intact. A private succeeding. In my time you didn’t more satisfaction than helping or for that matter, how do you define a legend? Is it person that didn’t need the limelight to feel good have coaches and mentors that those in need. Duke says, “today’s based on an unprecedented level of success, someone’s about himself. And this is why Duke is unique amongst could support you mentally, they youth are under so much pressure longevity at the top of the game, or the impact the elite sportsmen and women. He let his gloves and were trainers, and you had to with the impact social media, it’s someone had on others during their career? talent do the talking. navigate through your mental no surprise many aren’t happy challenges by yourself.” with themselves or their lives, There have been many great fighters and world Duke came from a strict background, a standard I want to help them to see and champions from the shores of Britain, that we can prerequisite for most professional boxers. He said, “As a boxer, you have to be value who they are and not what label as legends, names include Sir Henry Cooper who “Yes, it was tough; we didn’t have much and would resilient and mentally tough; the world expects them to be.” once knocked the great Mohammed Ali to the canvas, often have to go without of what was needed.” He otherwise, you wouldn’t get into a Britains favourite sports personality Frank Bruno MBE, also explained, how abusive his father was towards ring. However, it’s not the mental With many of Duke’s incredible Lloyd Honeyghan, Barry Mcguigan, Nigel Benn, Chris him and his siblings, especially brother Dudley, whom issues in the ring. Still, it’s the achievements and dedication to Eubank, Michael Watson, Prince Naseem Hamed, Joe Duke admired immensely. He describes Dudley as his situations of your life outside the the sport of boxing, he is also an Calzaghe, Lennox Lewis Ricky Hatton, Carl Froch and mentor and the person that filled the role of a father. ring that cause the unrest, and ambassador of the charity ‘MIND’ today’s superstars, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. When Duke was just fifteen, the situation got so severe men, in general, find it difficult to and in 2011 he was awarded However, another name stands equally amongst this at home; the two brothers decided to leave. A harsh talk about their mental health, an MBE for his contribution to list but often gets overlooked: Duke Mckenzie MBE, a reality the brothers had to face. As damaging this may especially someone with the boxing. He regards this and one of three-time world champion at different weights. sound, it is not how Duke likes to recall his life growing macho image of a fighter,” he said. the most memorable moments in up, Duke describes it as his version of education, “When you are training and his life. Everyone that follows boxing can confirm how difficult somewhat different but, an upbringing that has held it is to be a world champion in three different weight him in good stead. divisions, hence Duke isn’t merely a legend in Britain, A legend of boxing and sport, A legend of but a legend in the world of boxing. Duke’s persona isn’t Duke went on to have a fantastic boxing career people, A legend of a man, is Duke Mckenzie! one of an outspoken brass individual, which is probably spanning over 16 years, winning 39 of his 46 fights, why his name isn’t remembered with the British public more notably his world title triumphs. He said, “there as much as some of the others. Duke is a humble man, were a few disappointments along the way, but mostly 2 3