Ireland’s Aaron McKenna claims middleweight world title in Dublin

Irish boxer Aaron McKenna claimed the vacant IBF World Middleweight title, defeating previously unbeaten Italian contender Etinosa Oliha via unanimous decision at Dublin's 3Arena. With this victory, McKenna's professional record stands at 21-0, positioning him among an elite group of only three active world boxing champions from the island of Ireland, alongside Katie Taylor and Anthony Cacace.

The bout was characterized by tactical exchanges, with McKenna, nicknamed "The Silencer," leveraging his height and reach advantage. He effectively employed his jab throughout the fight, controlling the distance and accumulating points, particularly in the clinch where he demonstrated a well-rounded skillset. While Oliha struggled to land significant power punches, McKenna's consistent activity allowed him to secure the early rounds.

As the fight progressed, McKenna's dominance became more apparent. In the later rounds, he landed his most impactful shots as Oliha grew increasingly desperate to secure a knockout. The capacity crowd at the 3Arena, predominantly supporting McKenna, created a fervent atmosphere, roaring him on to victory. The judges' scorecards reflected McKenna's clear superiority, with tallies of 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

In the co-main event, another Irish fighter, Callum Walsh, also secured a wide decision win over England's Tyler Denny. Despite an unusual early knockdown, Walsh responded strongly, ultimately dominating the fight on the scorecards.