Aaron McKenna captured the IBF world middleweight championship during his first professional appearance in Ireland, defeating previously undefeated Etinosa Oliha at the 3Arena in Dublin. The Monaghan native maintained his unblemished 21-0 professional record after a tactical 12-round display at the Zuffa Boxing 10 event.
The judges ruled unanimously in McKenna’s favor with scores of 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112. This result handed the Italian challenger his first professional loss, moving his record to 22-1. Speaking after the bout, McKenna described the victory as the realization of a lifelong dream he had pursued for nine years.
Though Oliha presented a tough challenge, particularly in the early stages, McKenna eventually neutralized his opponent’s pressure with precise jab work and superior defensive movement. Despite suffering a cut from an accidental head collision in the 11th round, McKenna remained disciplined until the final bell.
The event also featured other successful Irish performances. Callum Walsh improved his record to 17-0 by defeating Tyler Denny in a tough co-main event, while Joe Ward returned from a two-year hiatus to best Artjom Kasparian. On the undercard, Stevie McKenna secured a first-round knockout victory against Owen O’Neill, and Connor Coyle maintained his perfect streak with a win over Mark Beuke.
