Michael McKinson is well aware of the uphill challenge he next faces.

The unbeaten but largely untested British welterweight will make his U.S. debut against one of the hottest commodities in the sport in rising contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18KOs). Their March 19 DAZN main event has McKinson entering as a +650 underdog according to DraftKings sportsbook, which has Ortiz listed as a -900 favorite to emerge victorious in their scheduled twelve-round bout at USC Galen Center in Los Angeles.

“I get motivated by people expecting me to lose,” McKinson insisted during a virtual press conference to discuss the fight. “If you look at my fights and you do the research, I’ve been the underdog many times.

“I’ve been the B-side many times. When people expect me to crumble and lose, I overcome with a smile on my face and have made my friends a lot of money. It motivates me and helps me raise my game.”

McKinson (21-0, 2KOs) will have to raise his game by several levels. The 27-year-old southpaw from Portsmouth, England considerably steps up in class against a perennial top ten contender in Ortiz, the universally regarded 2019 Prospect of the Year who has never been extended beyond the eighth round. McKinson has fought the ten-round distance in each of his last seven starts and eight times overall, including a March 2021 win over previously unbeaten Chris Kongo in Gilbartar—his lone pro fight outside the United Kingdom.

Granted, there is a vast difference in the level of competition. However, McKinson— whose younger brother Lucas Ballingall is also a pro boxer and both of whom trained by their father, Michael Ballingall—feels he brings the type of determination and will to win perhaps lacking by opponents who’ve already suffered defeat and in devastating fashion.

“Vergil is a great talent, a beast of a man,” acknowledges McKinson. “Obviously—he’s 18-0 with 18 knockouts. My style is very different to many others. Thar’s a new test for Vergil. I’m the first guy he’s boxed with an ‘0’. I’m a proud owner of my ‘0’. I’m not coming across the pond with my ‘0’ to give it up.

“He’s never boxed anyone that’s unbeaten in the professional ranks. He’s never had anybody as hungry, as confident as I am. I’ve never tasted defeat and I’m not planning to. There’s a lot of differences there. I’m excited to bring this test to him.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox