Callum Walsh made it clear that a fight with Aaron McKenna would only interest him if the Irishman were defending a world championship, not simply a domestic rivalry with his brother Stevie. The unbeaten Irish prospect, who is currently 16‑0 with 11 knockouts, is set to appear on the undercard of Aaron McKenna’s IBF middleweight title fight against Etinosa Oliha at Dublin’s 3Arena this Saturday, a bout that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The event is the headline attraction of a six‑fight middleweight showcase.
In addition to Aaron’s world‑title clash, the card features Stephen McKenna taking on Owen O’Neill over eight rounds, after which Stephen will step into the corner for his younger brother, who is chasing a world belt of his own. Stephen, a 16‑1 fighter with 15 KOs, has publicly suggested that Callum could be a future opponent for him. Walsh, however, believes he is already operating at a higher tier and has no desire to fight a brother who has already suffered a loss. When Sky Sports asked Walsh to respond to Stephen McKenna’s challenge, the 25‑year‑old boxer gave a blunt answer: “If there’s anyone I’m looking at, it’s the guy with the world title, not the guy with the loss.
In my mind it only makes sense if a world belt is on the line. There are bigger names than Stevie calling me out. Shane Mosley Jr.
would be a bigger fight than Stevie, but Aaron is fighting for the world title. If I had to choose, I’d fight Aaron for the championship.” Walsh’s comments reflect a broader philosophy that Irish middle‑weight boxing is at a pivotal moment. He warned that an all‑Irish bout without a world title could stall the momentum that fighters from the Emerald Isle are currently generating.
“It’s a big time for Irish boxing,” he said. “We have three of us in Zuffa Boxing coming from a relatively small market. Why would we knock each other out unless there’s a world title at stake? A title fight can sell out an arena, pay the fighters properly and give fans a real spectacle.
An undercard Irish‑vs‑Irish fight that isn’t for a belt just doesn’t make sense for me.” Walsh also took the opportunity to critique Stephen’s recent record. Stephen’s only professional defeat came via a majority decision to Lee Cutler in 2024. Walsh argued that Stephen should first seek revenge against the man who beat him before looking elsewhere.
“He doesn’t even want a rematch with the guy who beat him,” Walsh noted. “If I were him, I’d go after Cutler.
He’s in the same division, the same league, and he’s begging for a second chance.” The upcoming night in Dublin will also mark Walsh’s return to his hometown after his spectacular two‑round knockout of Przemyslaw Runowski in 2024. He is confident he can dispatch former European champion Tyler Denny, his current opponent, and he believes Aaron McKenna is on the cusp of becoming Ireland’s newest world champion. A victory for both men would set the stage for a tantalising all‑Irish world‑title showdown, a scenario Walsh says he would welcome without hesitation. When asked about Aaron’s opponent, Walsh admitted he knows little about the challenger but expressed confidence in Aaron’s ability.
“I’m sure Aaron will win. It’s a huge opportunity for him to go out in Dublin, perform and capture the world title.
If he wins and the promoters want me to fight him, I’ll step into the ring. If he doesn’t, I’ll look at the other options. I just fight whoever they put in front of me.
I’m not out here calling anyone out; I’m just following the usual path.” Walsh’s stance underscores a growing trend among rising Irish fighters: they are looking beyond local rivalries and seeking global recognition. By insisting that any Irish‑vs‑Irish bout must carry a championship on the line, Walsh is positioning himself as a contender who wants to elevate his career—and Irish boxing as a whole—to the world stage. His remarks also highlight the strategic considerations promoters must weigh when building cards that both showcase homegrown talent and attract international attention.
The event will be streamed contract‑free via NOW, and boxing fans can keep up with the schedule for 2026 to see when the next big fights are slated. For those who want real‑time updates, Sky Sports offers a WhatsApp service delivering the latest news, videos, analysis and more. As the night approaches, all eyes will be on Dublin’s 3Arena to see whether Aaron McKenna can secure the IBF middleweight crown and whether Callum Walsh can continue his unbeaten run, potentially setting up a historic all‑Irish world‑title clash in the near future.