Croydon's Winston McKenzie is aiming to knock out his political opposition to become the next mayor of London.

The former boxer launched his campaign to become the next Ken Livingstone at a press conference yesterday (Tuesday).

Despite his past political failures, Mr McKenzie insisted he should be taken seriously.

But his political career to date is not likely to trouble many of his opponents in his quest to become the Conservative candidate to stand against Mr Livingstone in 2008.

At the last general election in May 2005 Mr McKenzie polled less than five per cent of the vote as a Veritas candidate in Croydon North and lost his £500 deposit.

In 1993 he polled a paltry 0.94 per cent when running as an independent candidate in a Brent East by-election.

More recently, the London mayor hopeful was blamed by the council for the poor turn out at last month's Croydon Youth Games, of which Mr McKenzie was co-founder and chairman.

It was the second time the Youth Games has hit the skids. During its first year in 2004 many events were cancelled without warning, leading to complaints from disgruntled parents.

Despite previous disappointments Mr McKenzie, who described himself at his press conference as a "modern-day philanthropist" and an "educational motivator", is confident he will become London's first black mayor.

His campaign team includes former boxing brothers Clinton and Duke McKenzie, media agent and former European heavyweight champion Derek Sweet D' Williams and his "political mentor" Marianne Bowness - ex-wife of former Croydon mayor Lord Peter Bowness.

The Tory hopeful said: "It's not just about being educated at Oxford or Cambridge - it's about knowing what people want. And it's time for the best man to come forward and take on the job. If there's a candidate that can beat me I would like to meet them.

"The fact that I'm a community man and that I do things for my community is why people will vote for me. I come from a dynasty of champions and I'm a champion myself and that is what makes me different."

The Conservative Party will decide whether the former boxer will make a shortlist of Tory candidates who will battle it out to be their candidate.

A spokesman for Conservative Central Office said: "It sounds like Mr McKenzie will be applying to be the Conservative candidate. Various people have already applied and the application process goes up until spring next year.

"Once the application process has finished a shortlist of around half-a-dozen candidates will be put forward for the ballot to decide who will be the Conservative candidate."