Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa Oliha | Sky Sports - 8 August 2026

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Etinosa Oliha and Aaron McKenna ordered to fight for vacant IBF middleweight title

Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha have been ordered by the IBF to fight for the sanctioning body's vacant middleweight title, Brunch Boxing reports.

Both parties have 30 days to agree a deal. Should that not be reached, it will go to purse bids.

Italy's Oliha, 22-0 (10 KOs), is yet to prove himself at world level. The same might be said for McKenna, 20-0 (10 KOs), but the Los Angeles-based Irishman did achieve a lopsided 12-round points victory over the fading Liam Smith in his most recent bout 11 months ago on the undercard of the first clash between Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn.

McKenna fills the void left by Shakiel Thompson, who had been nominated to tackle Oliha only to get knocked out, this past weekend, by Brad Pauls in a minor upset.

The title is vacant after it was stripped from Janibek Alimkhanuly due to a doping violation that cancelled a bout with Erislandy Lara. As well as a six-month ban being issued by Kazakhstan Professional Boxing Federation, the fighter was also handed 12-month bans by both the IBF and the WBO, who also recognized Alimkhanuly as its beltholder at 160lbs. Consequently, he was unable to fulfil mandatory requirements from the IBF.

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AARON MCKENNA, ETINOSA OLIHA ORDERED TO FIGHT FOR VACANT IBF TITLE

The IBF have ordered Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha to fight for its vacant middleweight title.

The pair have 30 days to come to an agreement or purse bids will be called.

Janibek Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) was stripped of the title after failing a drug test in the lead up to his unification clash against Erislandy Lara in December. Meldonium was the substance found in Alimkhanuly's system.

McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs), ranked No. 7 by The Ring at middleweight, picked up the finest win of his career against a former world champion when he grabbed a wide points victory over Liam Smith last April.

Oliha (22-0, 10 KOs) is The Ring’s No. 6 ranked middleweight. Now entering the eighth year of his professional career, the 27-year-old has fought mostly underwhelming opposition. In his last outing, Oliha scored a third-round stoppage win over Ivan Njegac, a fighter with 19 wins and 33 defeats.

[MPW]

I'm kind of disappointed Pauls didn't get the offer after KOing Thompson but not entirely surprised that he was slighted.

I lean towards McKenna taking this one, although Oliha is definitely an unknown commodity. While both boxers are undefeated but without a lot of KOs on their records, I believe the Irishman has fought better competition and that experience will carry him through to the IBF title.

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Let's hope this gets done.

I think Stephen was at WrestleMania over the weekend, so I have a feeling he will be joining Zuffa

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MCKENNA-OLIHA ON AUG 8

Aaron McKenna will face Etinosa Oliha on August 8 for the vacant IBF middleweight title. The fight is expected to be the co-feature for a Zuffa Boxing and Sky Sports card headlined by Callum Walsh in Dublin.

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Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa Oliha for vacant title

Aaron McKenna, The Ring’s No. 6 middleweight and the IBF’s No. 3 contender, takes on Etinosa Oliha, ranked No. 5 by Ring and No. 2 by the IBF, on August 8 at an undisclosed venue.

McKenna vs. Oliha will be the co-feature of a Zuffa card with Callum Walsh headlining the main event. Walsh’s opponent has not been announced.

McKenna, a native of Monaghan, Ireland, fought only once last year but grabbed the best win of his career, a lopsided points win over faded former champion Liam Smith.

Similarly, Oliha spent most of his 2025 on the bench. When he finally jumped into the ring last September, he scored a quick third-round KO over Ivan Njegac. Njegac came into their contest with a record of 19-33.

The title became vacant when Janibek Alimkhanuly was stripped of his IBF title because of a failed 2025 drug test.

Amari Jones, who’s coming off a third-round KO over Vincenzo Gualtieri, is the mandatory for the winner.

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Zuffa Boxing will host event in Dublin on August 8

Zuffa Boxing is coming to Dublin, Ireland, it was confirmed today. On August 8, at 3Arena, Zuffa Boxing 10 will take place with details regarding the main event and supporting bouts to be revealed in coming weeks.

The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and will stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada.

Zuffa Boxing 10 will mark the promotion’s second card outside the United States. This Saturday, at the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, England, Chris Billam-Smith will face Ryan Rozicki in a 10-round cruiserweight main event at Zuffa Boxing 07 at the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, England.

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A week after Queensberry’s card in Dublin.

Was thinking McKenna might headline but isn’t he fighting this weekend?

Who else they got?

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Zuffa Boxing is coming to Ireland for first time: 3Arena in Dublin to host historic Zuffa Boxing 10 show on August 8

Zuffa Boxing 10 will take place on Saturday August 8, at the 3Arena in Dublin, live on Sky Sports; Ireland show will mark the promotion's second event outside of the United States, with details regarding the main event still to be announced

Zuffa Boxing is to host its historic first show in Ireland this August, live on Sky Sports.

3Arena in Dublin will stage Zuffa Boxing 10 on August 8, with details regarding the main-event co-feature and ticketing set to revealed in the coming weeks.

The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and will be streamed exclusively on Paramount+ in the US and Canada.

Fans are encouraged to register their interest early for the best chance to secure Zuffa Boxing tickets at ZuffaBoxing.com.

Zuffa Boxing 10 will mark the promotion's second card outside of the United States, following on from Chris Billam-Smith facing Ryan Rozicki in a 10-round cruiserweight main event in Bournemouth on June 6.

Hometown hero Billam-Smith headlines Zuffa Boxing 07 at the Bournemouth International Centre, also live on Sky Sports, while Jack Massey faces Chev Clarke in an all-British cruiserweight clash on the same card.

Following Saturday's action in Bournemouth, further Zuffa Boxing shows are scheduled in Las Vegas on June 28 and New York on July 26 ahead of their first Irish show the following month.

Zuffa Boxing 08 in Las Vegas includes Edwin De Los Santos facing Jose 'Rayo' Valenzuela in a 10-round rematch of their memorable 2022 fight-of-the-year contender, while the line-up for the New York show has yet to be announced.

[magnus]

It will be that Callum Walsh lad that Dana appears to be all-in on.

[magnus]

It will probably be the other McKenna too, as he's due to fight for the vacant IBF belt, perhaps as the nominal headliner.

[handsofstone]

Funnily enough I work with a boy who's mates with Sam Hickey who told me just yesterday that Sam was gonna be fighting in Ireland

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Funnily enough I work with a boy who's mates with Sam Hickey who told me just yesterday that Sam was gonna be fighting in Ireland

Callum Walsh probably headline this one.

[handsofstone]

Funnily enough I work with a boy who's mates with Sam Hickey who told me just yesterday that Sam was gonna be fighting in Ireland

Callum Walsh probably headline this one.

Yeh you'd have thought

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Announced: Aaron McKenna will face Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight title in the main event of Zuffa Boxing 10 on August 8th in Dublin, Ireland.

Also on the card, Callum Walsh will face Tyler Denny in a middleweight clash.

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Zuffa card but they fighting for IBF belt?

IBF will allow this due to it not being a unification with ZUFFA belt I’m guessing.

What shambles

[jameswilson]

Who will McKenna make his first defence against in 2028?

Seems about right given how often he fights.

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Who will McKenna make his first defence against in 2028?

Seems about right given how often he fights.

Let’s hope he’s more active now that he’s with Zuffa.

[MPW]

Who will McKenna make his first defence against in 2028?

Seems about right given how often he fights.

Let’s hope he’s more active now that he’s with Zuffa.

Yeah, it would be nice to see him fight more often than once every 15 or 16 months.

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Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha to fight for vacant IBF title on Zuffa Boxing show

Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha will fight for the vacant IBF middleweight title at 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland on Zuffa 10, making it the first sanctioning body world title fight that Zuffa Boxing will host.

Also set to appear on the bill, in chief support, is Callum Walsh, 16-0 (11 KOs), making his second Zuffa appearance when he takes on the wily Tyler Denny, 21-4-3, of Rowley Regis, England in a middleweight 10-rounder.

Italy's Oliha, 22-0 (10 KOs), is yet to prove himself at world level. The same might be said for McKenna, 20-0 (10 KOs), but the Los Angeles-based Irishman did achieve a lopsided 12-round points victory over the fading Liam Smith in his most recent bout 11 months ago on the undercard of the first clash between Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn.

McKenna filled the void left by Shakiel Thompson, who had been nominated by the IBF to tackle Oliha for the vacant belt only to get knocked out by Brad Pauls in a minor upset.

The Irishman was, however, a standout amateur with more than 150 wins in the vested code and multiple national championships.

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McKenna-Oliha, Walsh-Denny co-headlines Zuffa 10 in Dublin

Zuffa Boxing’s next foray across the pond is set for August 8 at Dublin’s 3Arena.

On the eve of their debut transatlantic show Saturday in Bournemouth, England, the upstart promotion announced that Zuffa Boxing 10 will be headlined by Ireland’s Aaron McKenna and Italy’s Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight title.

In the co-feature, Callum Walsh, who is from nearby Cork, takes on England’s Tyler Denny in a 10-round middleweight matchup.

McKenna and Oliha will be fighting for the IBF title previously held by Janibek Alimkhanuly, who was stripped of his belt in March after testing positive for a banned substance, Meldonium, in November. The winner of McKenna-Oliha must later defend the title against the recently named mandatory challenger, Amari Jones.

McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) hasn’t fought since April of last year, when he scored a career-best unanimous decision win against Liam Smith. The occasion against Oliha marks the first time the Irish amateur standout McKenna is fighting on home soil.

Oliha (22-0, 10 KOs) has cruised past obscure opposition in Italy and Germany, and McKenna undoubtedly presents the toughest test of his eight-year career.

Walsh (16-0, 11 KOs), meanwhile, returns for his second Zuffa showcase slot after headlining their first-ever event in January with a 10-round unanimous decision win against Carlos Ocampo. Walsh is seeking a statement win after a trio of anticlimactic decision victories.

Having previously faced 10 unbeatens in the British boxing circuit, Denny (21-4-3, 1 KO) should give the still-developing Walsh a stiff test. Denny last fought in March and suffered a unanimous decision defeat against George Liddard. The loss ended Denny’s brief two-fight winning streak following a second-round stoppage against Hamzah Sheeraz in September 2024.