Croydon's most famous boxing son, three-times World Champion Duke McKenzie, is backing Wayne Alexander to overcome the odds and knock out Takaloo on Friday night.

Bookmakers are making the Margate fighter clear favourite to win the bout, but McKenzie says Alexander's power could finish the fight in the early rounds. He told the Guardian: "The smart money has got to be on Takaloo because his form until his last fight was quite good, while Wayne's last three have been scratchy at best.

"But make no mistake Wayne Alexander has the power to knock out any opponent and I am going for an upset. I would go for Wayne to knock Takaloo out in three rounds.

"But if Takaloo boxes a tactical fight, he will take him into the later rounds where Wayne has a problem staying focused, then you'd have to fancy Takaloo."

Duke is running boxercise classes at the Duke Box Gym in Thornton Heath, call 07957 523104 for information.