Big Brother's Angel wings in to Civic
Big Brother 2009 contestant Angel McKenzie has told Lyndsey Scragg to be ready for a surprise ahead of their fight at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
'The Artist' continues her professional boxing career with a stern test on September 18 against the reigning world title holder in the champion's backyard over eight rounds.
But the Russian-born, London-based southpaw is more famed for her exploits outside of the ring, after spending 23 days of June on national television as part of the hit Channel 4 show.
Her love of showbiz doesn't begin or end there either. She was a rock star in her native country before moving to England in 1997, and is currently recording a new album to capitalise on her exposure.
Someone must be taking it seriously - an online petition was recently started for her to represent Great Britain at next year's Eurovision Song Contest.
None of this matters a jot to Scragg, who will plan to keep her quiet come night of the non-title bout.
But McKenzie is eying a scalp, and wants to make her opponent aware it is in the boxing ring where she is most under-rated.
She said: "I like to surprise people with my ability. Boxing brings me to life. Underestimate me if you want, people have done all my life, I have always been the underdog and that is fine by me.
"You can take a hammer to my head and to me it's nothing, because I have been hit with much harder punches than that. I have seen stars a few times - but I have always come back.
"I know how hard this fight is going to be, that is why I am training three times a day, but I am not afraid of anything."
McKenzie has a bigger story to tell than her record suggests, having fought in five different weight categories - middleweight, welterweight, light-welterweight, lightweight and her current super-featherweight.
The 31-year-old has also fought in nine different countries since turning pro in 2006 , although three wins from 18 is - by her own admission - not the greatest of returns.
But the away fighter believes she has more to lose because of her recent fame, and believes she cannot afford another slip-up.
She said: "Now I have become a celebrity, I cannot afford to lose, that is why I am trying to get an independent referee for the fight."
To be there for fight night, contact the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.
