A FAMOUS Croydon sporting dynasty looks set to continue as a former world boxing champion's son rises through the ranks at Crystal Palace.
Duke McKenzie's son Ellis Trowbridge, 12, is currently playing up-front for the Eagles' under-12 team.
Ellis' dream is to one day be a Premier League player – just like his cousin Leon McKenzie, a former Palace player turned professional boxer.
A pupil at Coombe Boys School near Kingston upon Thames, Ellis signed a new two-year deal with the club a fortnight ago.
Duke, 50, who runs Duke McKenzie Fitness Centre in Westow Street, Upper Norwood, said: "The way he's going at the minute, if he can keep doing what he's doing the next contract really will determine whether he stays in football or not. Once he's reached 15, a lot of the clubs let them go at that age.
"They crop them right back. If he can get another one out of Palace, then he can follow in the footsteps of Leon."
Having started training with Palace coaches aged just six, Ellis signed for the club at nine. He said his favourite player is Cristiano Ronaldo but plays "more like Messi".
But Duke, a boxing world champion at three different weights, does not like to get involved in his son's football.
"I don't come and watch, I just let him get on with it," Duke added.
"It's good that I don't come and watch. I don't want to be one of those touchline dads screaming all the time.
"When I was coming through boxing, I was under a lot of pressure to achieve because my brothers were so great, and I would hate to put any sort of pressure on Ellis."
That pressure came from Duke's brothers – Ukip politician Winston and Clinton – who both had successful early boxing careers.
Croydon-born Duke said: "I was under immense pressure. My brothers were European champions, England internationals, Olympians.
"For me having to follow on in their footsteps added to the pressure that was heaped on me, and was why I was such a failure in the amateur world of boxing because of the expectation.
"I wouldn't want to put that on my son. All I do is encourage him and give him good advice about the benefits of looking after himself, but he's doing great."
Although Duke admits to having "two left feet" on the football pitch, he said there are a few similarities between father and son.
He said: "He's really switched on, he does all his work off his own back and I don't have to say anything.
"But he's a bad loser, which he gets from me. I always said to him even though you know one day you're going to lose, you don't have to like it."
