Aaron McKenna to defend IBF middleweight world title against Jevgenijs Aleksejevs live on Sky Sports on December 4 | Boxing News
Aaron McKenna will defend his middleweight world title on Friday December 4, live on Sky Sports.
IBF champion McKenna will fight unbeaten Latvian Jevgenijs Aleksejevs at The Venue in Riyadh in the main event of Riyadh Season Zuffa Boxing 14.
It will be McKenna’s first defence of the world title belt he won by beating Etinosa Oliha on a memorable night in Dublin.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of Aaron McKenna’s IBF middleweight world title fight against Etinosa Oliha.
McKenna, 21-0 (10), who hails from Monaghan, Ireland, is a nine-year pro who vaulted into title contention with his April 2025 decision over former world champion Liam Smith.
While McKenna fought many times in Ireland as a top amateur, he returned home for the first time as a pro in August, capturing the world title with a one-sided victory over Oliha at Dublin’s 3Arena.
Aleksejevs, a world-ranked contender who has had 10 stoppage victories in his 20 professional wins, will be challenging for a world title for the first time.
A former kickboxing standout, Aleksejevs has been perfect in gloved combat, securing a regional title last October with a unanimous decision over Przemyslaw Zysk. In February, he outlasted Italy’s Damiano Falcinelli over 10 tense rounds.
Former European champion and world title challenger Jack Massey returns to action against Andrew Tabiti.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Chev Clarke bounced back from being put down twice in the fourth round as he went on to stop Jack Massey in the seventh round of their cruiserweight classic.
Massey, 23-4 (13), is looking to rebound from a stunning defeat to Chev Clarke on June’s Zuffa Boxing 07 bill. He had Clarke on the deck twice in round four before being stopped in the seventh.
America’s Tabiti, who fought Yuniel Dorticos for the world title, has been operating at heavyweight and now returns to the cruiserweight division.
New light-heavyweight signing Zak Chelli has his first bout for Zuffa Boxing on the bill. He takes on Jesse Hart.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Relive the heart-warming moment that saw Stevie McKenna watch his brother Aaron win the IBF world middleweight title.
London’s Chelli is coming off a stunning upset knockout victory over David Morrell.
The son of renowned Philadelphia contender Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, Jesse Hart has twice challenged Gilberto Ramirez for the WBO super-middleweight world title. He is coming off a controversial decision loss to touted prospect Khalil Coe.
After his thrilling battle with Chris Billam-Smith, huge punching cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki will fight France’s 12-2 Gaetan Ntambwe, a two-division French champion who has yet to be stopped in the paid ranks.
Rising welterweight prospect Alex “The Villain” MacMillan, 5-0 (4), returns against an opponent to be named in a six-rounder.
In a preliminary bout, former heavyweight titlist and Anthony Joshua opponent, “Prince” Charles Martin will fight Vladyslav Sirenko, the dangerous Ukrainian with a 23-1 (20) record, who is fresh off his knockout win over Otto Wallin in July.
Rising cruiserweight Jamar Talley, 7-0 (6), will fight Britain’s Sherif Musah, while 18-year-old Nigerian phenom Raheem Animashaun, 20-0 (12), competes in a six-round welterweight bout.
Watch McKenna vs Aleksejevs on Friday December 4 live on Sky Sports.
