Aaron McKenna wins dream homecoming bout against Etinosa Oliha to become IBF middleweight world champion in Dublin | Boxing News

Ireland’s Aaron McKenna defeated Etinosa Oliha to become a middleweight world champion.

For McKenna this fight in Dublin was a dream homecoming. The Irish middleweight had pursued his career across America, sparring in some of the world’s best gyms and amassing an undefeated pro record.

This contest, for the vacant IBF middleweight title, was his first world title fight and his first professional contest in Ireland.

With brother Stevie taking a spectacular knockout earlier, McKenna made a memorable entrance, wildly cheered into the ring by the 3Arena crowd, so loudly that the floor was almost rumbling.

But he didn’t let emotions carry him away at the start of the fight. He edged forward onto the front foot, feinting. He timed a left hook as Oliha, unbeaten himself coming in, stepped to him.

McKenna let his jab flicker out. His hands were quick, his right streaked in and McKenna used his left hook to let a cross blast through.

But the Italian wrested the second round his way, thumping through right hooks, punches McKenna felt, to show that he too could launch meaningful attacks.

McKenna ground forward, stifling his own long-range work but bodily forcing Oliha back.

When he did strike his opponent with a reaching right, the crowd roared and as the fight progressed into its second half McKenna did move more on his toes, darting back to scrape his left hook into the side of Oliha’s head.

The Italian looked to rip hooks into him but McKenna marshalled him to the ropes and slugged Oliha with a left hook.

McKenna imposed himself again in the ninth round but Oliha, a solid operator, showed little sign of wilting.

In the 10th round McKenna circled out and reeled off double jabs. As they grappled in a clinch though, Oliha unleashed a flurry that caught the Irishman.

McKenna briefly put space between them with a cross to the chin. He scored to the body with thudding right hooks too.

Oliha charged from his corner with a long one-two to start the 11th round. With flashier work, McKenna landed a left uppercut off his jab. Oliha though hacked back at him with a right hook up close.

McKenna continued to punch in greater volume. A clash saw him cut on the forehead just before the end of the 11th. He trusted in a hefty right hook as a response.

He didn’t want or need to take risks in the last round. He moved sharply, striking an increasingly desperate Oliha with jabs and the crowd all around him stood up cheering, clapping and chanting his name.

McKenna worked an uppercut, Oliha drove in a right but even when McKenna took shots he didn’t let them shake him as he closed out a unanimous decision.

When that final bell chimed, McKenna rushed to the corner post and jumped up onto the ropes to celebrate.

As soon as the words “from Monaghan” were declared by the ring announcer, confirming McKenna a 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 victor, the arena burst into deafening cheers once again.

“A new world champion. I’ve been saying it for years. A big thank you to Zuffa Boxing for giving me this platform and bringing a fight back to Ireland for me,” McKenna beamed afterwards.

“I’ve been a professional for nine years and never got the chance to fight in Ireland. Why? Just look at these beautiful fans.

“I never lost discipline in training. There were times when I wondered whether I’d ever get the chance.

“My dad [their trainer] sacrificed his whole life for me and my brother, dedicating everything to helping us chase our dreams.

“Finally, I’ve got my hands on this.”