Clinton McKenzie cleared of drug slur

[bennie]

Boxing brothers Clinton and Winston McKenzie have spoken of their "year of hell" after finally being cleared of allowing crack cocaine to be dealt in their Thornton Heath pub.

The pair were discharged after the case against them collapsed at Croydon Magistrates' Court last week.

Specialist officers had stormed the pub in Parchmore Road, making 25 arrests for alleged drugs, firearm and immigration offences last December.

Both Clinton and Winston had always strenuously denied that they knowingly let the supply of crack cocaine take place at the bar.

Speaking after their court ordeal, Clinton, 48, of Addington Road, Selsdon, said: "Personally, this feels like winning the world title again - it is fantastic.

"None of our family even smoke, so to be labelled as people who take part in drugs is a total disgrace.

"This has been a great injustice - they never had any evidence against us."

Winston, Clinton and Duke McKenzie took over the pub in 2000 and declared an attitude of zero-tolerance to drugs.

The site had been renowned as a haven for drug dealers and the scene of numerous fights and stabbings.

But at a Croydon Council licensing committee meeting in July 2001, the brothers were credited with helping to reduce crime in the centre of Thornton Heath.

Winston, 47, who lives in Temple Road, South Croydon, said: "It was a mouth-watering prospect taking over the pub. We thought having a gym upstairs was fantastic. "To our amazement we found the local community more than willing to help us sort out the problems around that area. "There were members of the community coming forward and pointing out various people who they thought were involved in drugs."

But the brothers were powerless to stop the whole problem re-emerging a few months before the pub was raided last December.

Officers uncovered crack cocaine, cannabis and a loaded 8mm handgun.

Clinton said: "We would never have knowingly allowed anybody to come in our pub with drugs or to deal drugs.

"We were never once told by staff that there were drugs being dealt in the pub.

"Looking back I do regret buying the place - I wish I had never gone near there. It has caused me so much anxiety and so many sleepless nights.

"I have never taken drugs and I had references from the boxing world to back me up. People like Chris Eubank and other celebrities were ready to give me their support in court."

Clinton will now continue to run his fitness gym and boxing club in Herne Hill.

His brother Winston hopes to stand as a parliamentary candidate for Croydon North at the next General Election.

Winston added: "Once your name is mentioned with drugs, it does put a stain on your character.

"There must be loads of innocent people being convicted of something they know little about.

"The law needs to be changed and it is something I will campaign for during my time in politics."

[knockout artist]

The McKenzie brothers are the most straight and genuine people you could meet.

They are down to earth guys who are a credit to Boxing.

I've met Clinton and Duke on several occasions and have done some bits of business with Clinton in the past.

There is no way and I mean no way, that any of the McKenzie brothers would be involved in anything like this.

They are good guys, guys you can trust and rely on.

Good luck to them.

[bennie]

Yes, I met Clinton once at a boxing show and found him to be a down-to-earth, likeable bloke. Salt of the earth.
And what a fighter! He never got a deserved world title crack, but he gave future IBF light-welterweight champion Terry Marsh his hardest fight in 1984 and also went 10 hard rounds with future WBC champion Bruce Curry in Las Vegas in 1979 - just two weeks after a bruising 15-round classic with Colin Power, a fight in which Harry Mullan said of the two combatants: "Both men went above and beyond the call of duty."
McKenzie also gave Sugar Ray Leonard three good rounds in the Montreal Olympics.

[knockout artist]

Yes, I met Clinton once at a boxing show and found him to be a down-to-earth, likeable bloke. Salt of the earth.
And what a fighter! He never got a deserved world title crack, but he gave future IBF light-welterweight champion Terry Marsh his hardest fight in 1984 and also went 10 hard rounds with future WBC champion Bruce Curry in Las Vegas in 1979 - just two weeks after a bruising 15-round classic with Colin Power, a fight in which Harry Mullan said of the two combatants: "Both men went above and beyond the call of duty."
McKenzie also gave Sugar Ray Leonard three good rounds in the Montreal Olympics.

Couldnt have put it better myself, Bennie.

I went to the Marsh fight, at Shoreditch Town Hall, if I remember correctly.

I had Clinton shading it?

Did you see the fight?

[bennie]

Yes, I met Clinton once at a boxing show and found him to be a down-to-earth, likeable bloke. Salt of the earth.
And what a fighter! He never got a deserved world title crack, but he gave future IBF light-welterweight champion Terry Marsh his hardest fight in 1984 and also went 10 hard rounds with future WBC champion Bruce Curry in Las Vegas in 1979 - just two weeks after a bruising 15-round classic with Colin Power, a fight in which Harry Mullan said of the two combatants: "Both men went above and beyond the call of duty."
McKenzie also gave Sugar Ray Leonard three good rounds in the Montreal Olympics.

Couldnt have put it better myself, Bennie.

I went to the Marsh fight, at Shoreditch Town Hall, if I remember correctly.

I had Clinton shading it?

Did you see the fight?

I watched it on the box. What a war! Clinton had so many it was incredible he had such a long and successful career. He first won the British title in 1978 and won the title back a whole 11 years later when he virtually outclassed Lloyd Christie.
His fight with Des Morrison in 1981 at York Hall has got to be one of the greatest British title fights of all time.