Aaron McKenna announced his arrival as a serious contender in April 2025 with an impressive victory over former champion Liam Smith. Now, the unbeaten Irishman has the chance to build on that breakthrough as he faces Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight title at Dublin’s 3Arena.
McKenna heads into the fight full of confidence, promising a standout performance on the big stage. He believes his preparation has been flawless and is determined to deliver a dominant display against his Italian opponent.
“I want to look spectacular,” McKenna said. “Training and sparring have both gone really well, and I’m fully focused on beating Oliha in the best way possible. I believe I’m better than him technically and physically. No matter how the fight plays out, I’m confident I come out on top.”
The win over Smith improved McKenna’s record to 20-0 (10 KOs), while Oliha enters the bout with an identical unbeaten mindset at 22-0 (10 KOs). Despite some inactivity since his last fight, McKenna had been targeting a major opportunity earlier in the year.
He revealed that he was close to securing a title fight with Carlos Adames in January, with plans nearly finalized for a bout at Madison Square Garden. However, those plans fell apart at the last moment when Adames opted for a different opponent, leaving McKenna frustrated on the sidelines.
While Adames went on to face Austin “Ammo” Williams, McKenna remained focused behind the scenes, continuing to train and prepare for his moment. Now, that opportunity has arrived.
During fight week, McKenna and Oliha faced off, but the Irishman downplayed any talk of tension. Instead, he emphasized his focus and readiness, stating that he feels fully prepared heading into the contest.
McKenna has also signed up for drug testing programs and supports stricter anti-doping measures in boxing. He believes increased testing is essential to ensure fairness and maintain the integrity of the sport.
Having built his career alongside his father and trainer Fergal, McKenna feels that fans have yet to see his full range of abilities. He pointed to his performance against Smith as just one example of his versatility, noting that he can adapt his style depending on the challenge in front of him.
He is confident that Oliha will not bring anything unfamiliar and expects to push his opponent into deep waters as the fight progresses. McKenna has promised an intense battle and believes he will ultimately prove his superiority.
A victory would not only crown McKenna as world champion but could also further boost Ireland’s growing presence in boxing. He hopes to play a leading role in that resurgence and deliver memorable nights for Irish fans.
Looking beyond this fight, McKenna has ambitious plans for the middleweight division. He believes the weight class lacks standout stars and is determined to establish himself as the dominant force, targeting unification bouts and the biggest names available.
“I want to fight the best,” he said. “I plan to take on the biggest challenges and unify the division. And if they won’t fight me, I’ll move up and face them at super middleweight.”
