Scragg's warning for famous foe
Lyndsey Scragg has warned Big Brother contestant Angel McKenzie her media profile will count for nothing when the two collide at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on September 18.
Despite her standing as the city's first female professional boxer and reigning world champion, the hometown girl cannot match the national exposure of her Russian-born counterpart, who was a 'voted out' contestant this year on the hit Channel 4 show.
After enjoying the 'celebrity' rub, the 31-year-old has returned to the boxing world looking to capitalise on her new-found fame.
But her exploits in boxing are far less plentiful than her 30-year-old opponent, who boasts nine wins of 10 as a pro and currently holds the Global Boxing Council super-featherweight crown.
As straight laced a boxer as they come, Scragg warns McKenzie that her ego is not the only thing that could be bruised come fight night.
She said: "Angel's a bit different, that is for sure. She just wants to be famous, but I am at the point where I don't really care, I just go in there to do a job.
"When the big night comes it's down to business as usual, all the press coverage in the world won't do her any good then.
"What she has done means nothing to me, but if it gets people talking then so be it. It doesn't change the task in hand."
When Scragg was beating Kristine Shergold at the Civic to claim her world title on June 12, McKenzie was eight days into a 23-day stint in the Big Brother house.
The Wolverhampton super-featherweight could not help but roll her eyes when watching the opening night of the show.
Little did she know they would be meeting toe-to-toe three months later.
Scragg said: "I watched the opening night, I normally can't stand the programme, and bear in mind I had no idea this fight was going to happen at that point. I knew who she was, so I thought 'oh god, here we go.'
"My hope was that she wouldn't make a bad impression on women's boxing, especially when there are people like me trying to do it the right way. It's not a circus, she made it sound like that a little bit and that is what she will probably do at the Civic, to be honest.
"It's going to be an entertaining fight, that is for sure. We will put on a show."
To be there for fight night, contact the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.
