Aaron McKenna of Ireland secured a monumental win over Etinosa Oliha to become the new middleweight world champion. This highly anticipated fight, held in Dublin, marked a triumphant return for McKenna, who had spent his career competing in the United States, honing his skills in top-notch gyms and maintaining an undefeated professional record. The bout for the vacant IBF middleweight title was McKenna's first world title fight and his inaugural professional contest in Ireland.
Following his brother Stevie's impressive knockout earlier in the evening, McKenna made a memorable entrance, receiving a thunderous welcome from the crowd at the 3Arena. As the fight commenced, McKenna skillfully managed his emotions, employing a strategic approach by edging forward and utilizing feints. He successfully timed a left hook as Oliha, also unbeaten at the start of the contest, approached him.
McKenna's quick hands and precise jab allowed him to dominate the early rounds. However, Oliha rallied in the second round, landing powerful right hooks that McKenna felt, demonstrating his capability to launch meaningful attacks.
As the fight progressed, McKenna adjusted his strategy, stifling his long-range work and physically forcing Oliha back. When he landed a reaching right, the crowd erupted in cheers. In the second half of the fight, McKenna showcased his agility, moving deftly on his toes and landing a left hook on the side of Oliha's head.
Despite Oliha's relentless attempts to rip hooks into him, McKenna effectively marshalled his opponent to the ropes and landed a decisive left hook. In the ninth round, McKenna reasserted his dominance, but Oliha, a resilient operator, showed no signs of fatigue.
The tenth round saw McKenna circling out and unleashing double jabs, but Oliha countered with a flurry of punches in a clinch. McKenna briefly created distance with a cross to the chin and scored with thudding right hooks to the body. In the eleventh round, Oliha initiated with a long one-two combination, but McKenna responded with a left uppercut off his jab.
Although Oliha hacked back with a right hook, McKenna continued to punch with greater volume. A clash resulted in McKenna suffering a cut on his forehead, prompting him to rely on a hefty right hook.
In the final round, McKenna adopted a cautious approach, moving sharply and striking Oliha with jabs as the crowd rose to their feet in a frenzy of cheers and applause. McKenna worked an uppercut, and despite Oliha's late efforts, he remained composed, securing a unanimous decision.
Upon the final bell, McKenna ecstatically rushed to the corner post and jumped onto the ropes to celebrate. As the ring announcer declared him the winner by scores of 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112, the arena erupted into deafening cheers once again. In the post-fight interview, McKenna expressed his gratitude to Zuffa Boxing for providing him with the platform to compete in Ireland.
He acknowledged the unwavering support of his fans and dedicated the victory to his father, who had sacrificed everything to help him and his brother pursue their boxing dreams.