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

[Ruthless-RKO]

Aaron McKenna eyes Canelo Alvarez and Chris Eubank Jr after world championship fight against Etinosa Oliha in Dublin

Aaron McKenna fights Etinosa Oliha on August 8 live on Sky Sports; McKenna believes if he can win the IBF middleweight world title he can put himself on course to fight Canelo Alvarez or Chris Eubank Jr; "Come to Ireland and try to get a win for the Eubank name," he tells Junior.

Aaron McKenna gets his dream world title fight against Etinosa Oliha in Dublin on August 8, live on Sky Sports.

The Irishman reckons if he can hand Oliha a first defeat to win the IBF middleweight championship, he can plot a course to fights with the biggest names in his division and the weight class above.

If Christian Mbilli can get a fight with Canelo Alvarez, McKenna believes he can put himself in the frame for a shot at the Mexican superstar.

"On August 8 becoming world champion will open a lot of doors for me," McKenna told Sky Sports.

"[Canelo] is one of the biggest names in boxing right now - he's fighting Mbilli. That's for the 168lb title. You never know. I win the IBF title try and unify but I'm definitely open to fighting for titles at 168 as well. I'm taking the best opportunity that's going to grow my career."

McKenna will also take aim at a returning Chris Eubank Jr, whose father, boxing legend Chris Eubank fought twice in Ireland, losing on both of those occasions to Steve Collins.

McKenna invites him to come to Ireland to "try and get a win for the Eubank name".

"Eubank and Steve Collins, they fought in Cork on Sky Sports so you never know, if he wants to run similar story back we can do it in Ireland on Sky Sports again, it would just recreate history," McKenna said.

"After this show on August 8, Irish boxing will have a big star. It's going to bring massive, massive headlines and a new audience to Irish boxing."

To realise his ambitions though, McKenna will have to overcome Oliha next month. "He's a very good fighter, 22-0, strong, he'll be game and any man that's fighting for world titles is going to be giving it their all," he said, but added: "I know what I have to do.

"I'm more than ready for it."

He is relishing the occasion. "It's going to be unbelievable. It's something that I've been dreaming of since I started boxing at six years old. Finally get my fight for the world title and for it to be in Ireland makes it extra special," McKenna said.

"I'm doing everything now to make sure it's going to count. Everything I've been doing so far in my boxing career is leading up to this moment and it's going to work out in the end.

"The 3Arena is a brilliant atmosphere and it's perfect for boxing, especially with the Irish fans. I know there's a lot of people travelling over from America too.

"I'm having goosebumps just thinking about fighting in there with that Irish atmosphere."

Tickets go on sale Friday at 2 pm via Ticketmaster.ie, while anyone who registered their interest via ZuffaBoxing.com will get early access at 10 am on Friday.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Only heard of this lad when he beat the remains of Liam Smith, is his modus operandi to fight washed up old fighters with a name much in the same way as Conor Benn does ?

Wouldn’t a Callum Walsh fight make the most sense ?

[MPW]

Oliha and Thompson were penciled in to fight for the vacant title, but Pauls stopped Thompson to derail those plans. Probably based on the win over Smith, McKenna was then shifted into the position to take on the undefeated Italian rather than Pauls, which, based on last weekend's dismal result, proved to be the wise choice.

[Taansend]

Does anyone else think this fight has Hagler Hearns II written all over it

[MPW]

Does anyone else think this fight has Hagler Hearns II written all over it

Hagler and Hearns will have landed more punches in the first round than we're likely to see in 12 rounds of this one.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.ie for Zuffa Boxing 10: McKenna vs. Oliha, taking place at Dublin’s 3Arena on Saturday, August 8.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Callum Walsh gunning for 'career best performance' with Tyler Denny knockout on big August 8 in Dublin live on Sky

Callum Walsh fights Tyler Denny on August 8 live on Sky Sports; Aaron Mckenna's middleweight world title fight with Etinosa Oliha headlines the Zuffa Boxing 10 bill; Walsh is determined to deliver a career best performance against the former European champion

Callum Walsh is plotting a "career best performance" when he returns to Dublin to fight live on Sky Sports on August 8.

At the 3Arena, the Irish middleweight will take on former European champion Tyler Denny.

He is looking to unlock new levels to his boxing. "I think there's a lot more to come. I've been looking for that one performance," Walsh told Sky Sports. "I'm still trying to make it happen.

"It does take two to tango," he added. "I'm doing as much as I can over here to try and be the best I can on the night.

"I'm still waiting for the career best performance so far and hopefully I can have it in Ireland and finally be happy with the fight and show people what I am really capable of."

However Walsh knows that Denny, when on form, is a formidable opponent.

"I know he's going to show up and he's going to try to beat me. And I'm ready, I'm prepared for the challenge," he said of the Englishman. "He's going to come to win and this is what it's all about."

Walsh insists he won't back away from the threat. He is gunning for a knockout.

"I've seen a lot of comments saying there's going to be an upset, he's going to beat me. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'm going to prepare to the best I can and I'm going to be the best I can on the night and hopefully put on a career-best performance and get him out of there," Walsh said,

"I think I need to mix up, definitely more aggressive, 100%, and not let him get in that groove. Just bring the fight to him," he added.

"Be able to go all out, flat out for 10 rounds and if I can't get him out of there [win] really a clear decision. But my plan is to definitely be aggressive and try to finish the fight."

The atmosphere in Ireland will be inspirational, if not too galvanising.

"You want to take in the energy and enjoy it, but you don't want to take it in too much and try to enjoy it too much and next thing you lose the fight. So I'm always very focused," Walsh said.

"It's after you get your hand raised that's when you can really look around and look into the crowd.

"That's the best part. When you're looking out to the crowd, it's a sold-out arena and everyone's singing and everyone's happy, that's when you really enjoy it then."

He recalled his previous bout in Dublin. "It was unbelievable last time I fought in the 3Arena. I had a second-round knockout and the crowd went crazy. I would advise people coming to bring an umbrella," he laughed.

"If they're sitting close to the ring, bring an umbrella. There were beers flying everywhere. I was getting hit with pints inside the ring last time with the celebrations. It was raining inside the 3Arena. I'm really looking forward to the crowd, the energy, the buzz, it was unbelievable. So I can't wait to go back there and do it all again.

"It's going to be a great night. One of the best nights. It's going to be a great card the whole way through."

[Ruthless-RKO]

In 2 weeks!

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Fight Week!!

[a force]

Only heard of this lad when he beat the remains of Liam Smith, is his modus operandi to fight washed up old fighters with a name much in the same way as Conor Benn does ?

Wouldn’t a Callum Walsh fight make the most sense ?

I don’t think any of us know how good he is. It’s a big step up for him but also his opponent.

I wouldn’t give him any stick for taking the Smith fight. He’s been desperate for an opportunity for ages & that’s what Turki gave him.

Even though his record isn’t great it’s better than his opponents & you've got to fancy him to become world champ.

[keithmoonhangover]

McKenna's up against it on Saturday.

[mickey1975]

Only heard of this lad when he beat the remains of Liam Smith, is his modus operandi to fight washed up old fighters with a name much in the same way as Conor Benn does ?

Wouldn’t a Callum Walsh fight make the most sense ?

I don’t think any of us know how good he is. It’s a big step up for him but also his opponent.

I wouldn’t give him any stick for taking the Smith fight. He’s been desperate for an opportunity for ages & that’s what Turki gave him.

Even though his record isn’t great it’s better than his opponents & you've got to fancy him to become world champ.

I don't think that is his plan. I think he's probably hard to match because he's good and not an attraction nor a bug name.

[giacomino]

This says more about the sad state of the middleweight division than anything else. These two wouldn't sniff an alphabet title shot in most eras, but pretty much anyone with an unbeaten record gets an opportunity today. Oliha's opposition has been pathetic, but hey, he's 22-0.

[Cent0089]

This says more about the sad state of the middleweight division than anything else. These two wouldn't sniff an alphabet title shot in most eras, but pretty much anyone with an unbeaten record gets an opportunity today. Oliha's opposition has been pathetic, but hey, he's 22-0.

Agree. But if nothing else, at least two undefeated fighters are forced to fight each other because of the belt. And winner will probably defend it against Walsh - Denny winner?. Middleweight is wasteland in recent years

[MPW]

This says more about the sad state of the middleweight division than anything else. These two wouldn't sniff an alphabet title shot in most eras, but pretty much anyone with an unbeaten record gets an opportunity today. Oliha's opposition has been pathetic, but hey, he's 22-0.

Agree. But if nothing else, at least two undefeated fighters are forced to fight each other because of the belt. And winner will probably defend it against Walsh - Denny winner?. Middleweight is wasteland in recent years

Unfortunately, both of your assessments about one of boxing's premier divisions is spot-on accurate. McKenna's opposition has been a smidge better than the Italian's, but that bar is still pretty low.

[IrishGuy]

McKenna's up against it on Saturday.

Really? You seen much of the opponent

[Ruthless-RKO]

Aaron McKenna, via the world, ready to finally arrive in Dublin

For Aaron McKenna, this weekend’s bout in Dublin for the IBF middleweight title is the culmination of one chapter and the start of another.

When he was just 16, Aaron, his dad Fergal and fighting brother Stephen travelled to America to follow their boxing dreams, and those dreams have led back to Ireland's 3Arena on Saturday.

It is there that McKenna faces Italy’s undefeated Etinosa Oliha for a title that would mean so much to the Irishman.

“It means everything, like becoming world champion,” he said of his chance to claim the IBF belt on Zuffa Boxing’s debut Irish show. “It’s what I’ve been dreaming of my whole life and we’re only a few days away from it and it’s all starting to become real now. I’ve been saying for years I want to become world champion and I want the biggest fights. So now I’ve finally got the opportunity to do it in front of the Irish fans in my own backyard. It’s what dreams are made of and I’m going to make sure I’m world champion come Saturday night.”

While McKenna is only 28, he could have arrived here faster had he been able to capitalise on his impressive victory over Liverpool veteran Liam Smith last April.

Instead, he’s been frustrated by inactivity and missed out on the chance to face Carlos Adames in New York in January when Adames was instead paired with Austin “Ammo” Williams.

Sitting out for so long was not part of McKenna’s strategy.

“It’s crazy. That’s why I'm in a great position now with Zuffa Boxing and Dana White and Nick Khan,” he added. “They’re very smart people. And I believe Zuffa’s taking over boxing – they already are. And the future’s very bright for me. I’m going to get regular fights and big fights like I’ve been calling for. And I want big, massive 50-50 fights. Fights that are going to give me the recognition I deserve. And you’ve seen the last fight [against Smith], how good that went for me. I’ve been calling for fights like that for years, and I finally got it and it nearly made it harder for me to get fights because it went so well. I’m in a great position now with Zuffa.”

To that end, what has gone before does not matter because this is the start for McKenna.

“I’m always locked in and focused on the fight that’s ahead of me,” he said.

“And since the fight last year, I’ve been in the gym ever since. I haven’t missed a day of training. I’ve been in great shape since May last year and I’ve gotten good sparring. I went to Vegas in April and May and got great training. And then this last while, I’ve had great sparring over in Ireland and my camp has gone very well and I will become world champion.”

If all goes as the McKennas hope, it will represent a full-circle moment for the family.

Fergal and his sons have travelled far and wide. They’ve fought, they’ve sparred, they’ve trained and they’ve learned.

“Me and my dad first went out to America when I was 16, which is 10 years ago now,” Aaron recalled. “And that was really to start my pro career, my pro journey. And I always wanted to be a professional fighter and that’s one of the sacrifices we made, to go out there to see if I liked it. And then I turned pro at 18, had my first 10 fights over there and then COVID hit, and we moved back. Stephen, as well, was over there with us. He had his first four fights in America.

“But the time in America has definitely made us into the fighters we are because you get to see a lot of different styles, the different quality of training. And it’s definitely the best place to be if you want to make it to the very top in this sport.

“I remember when I was walking into these Mexican gyms in East LA. It was just all Mexicans and they all spoke Spanish. So you’re going into their environment and then getting in the ring, sparring fully seasoned pros. Any time I was sparring over there, they were always very seasoned pros. And I was always doing well, holding my own and doing very well in sparring. Even from the young age of 16 all the way up until 21, I always did very well over there and picked up little things from different guys, different gyms.

“You’d go to a Mexican gym and they’re all about inside fighting – hitting you on the shoulders, the hips, good body work. So you’re going from a gym like that to another American-type gym where they’re more of a shell-style fighter trying to set you up. Maybe it’s a game-of-chess type of style of boxing. So it’s very important that a fighter gets to see styles like that.”

Once again, on Saturday, McKenna will be able to show what he’s learned as he looks to close the door on his hungry contender era and begin a new chapter as a champion.

[keithmoonhangover]

McKenna's up against it on Saturday.

Really? You seen much of the opponent

Yes sir.

[Ruthless-RKO]

'Just the beginning': Oliha believes now's the time to upset McKenna

Etinosa Oliha has been patient but come August 8, gets his long overdue IBF middleweight title shot against Aaron McKenna at 3Arena, Dublin.

"There were moments where I had to wait and trust the process, but never stopped working," Oliha (22-0, 10 KOs) told The Ring.

"I stayed in the gym, kept improving, and now the opportunity has arrived. I believe everything happens for a reason, and now it's my time."

Oliha, The Ring's No. 5 middleweight, is ready to make the most of his opportunity.

"This is what I've worked for my whole life," he said. "Aaron is a good fighter and I respect him, but I believe in myself and my abilities. I'm coming to Ireland to win and bring the IBF title back home."

The 28-year-old recognizes what McKenna brings to the table but believes his skill set will help him prevail on enemy terrain.

"Aaron is a good fighter and has his strengths, otherwise he wouldn't be in this position," he said. "We studied him with my team and know what he does well, but I'm not going to reveal our game plan.

"Every fighter has weaknesses, and on August 8 everyone will see what we have prepared."

Oliha got his break after impressing during sparring sessions in Germany, which saw him signed by AGON Sports and insists he hasn't made all this progress to fall short at the final hurdle.

"Winning this title would mean everything to me," he said. "It would be the result of years of sacrifice, discipline, and hard work. But at the same time, I see it as only the beginning. Becoming world champion would change my life, but also be a message to everyone that with faith, dedication, and perseverance, anything is possible."

Ingo Volckmann of AGON Sports originally thought his fighter would be facing Shakiel Thompson until the Englishman suffered an ninth-round knockout upset defeat by Brad Pauls on March 28.

That opened the door for McKenna, who will instead face Oliha.

"So, now we're fighting McKenna," he said. "The Irishman will be a tough opponent, no question about it. Etinosa will prepare well; we have excellent facilities and strong sparring partners. I'm very confident we'll win the fight."

McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) was a good amateur before heading stateside where he made his professional debut, aged 18, in December 2017.

After nine wins in America, he found himself fighting in the UK after the coronavirus pandemic. He beat Uisma Lima over 10 rounds in June 2023 before getting his big break when claiming the scalp of former 154-pound champion Liam Smith with a 12-round points win in April 2025 on the Chris Eubank-Conor Benn I undercard.

[jameswilson]

McKenna is a class boxer, I think he’s much the better of the brothers but he is going to be up against it when it comes to money fights. His style isn’t hugely easy on the eye and the way I’ll put it is he isn’t exactly intimidating in a face off. There’s some guys in the past who have managed to overcome these downfalls but I don’t think McKenna will be one of them but we may well see a packed out arena this weekend to prove me wrong.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Aaron McKenna wants to unify the middleweight championships, rise through divisions and then fight at heavyweight!

Aaron McKenna fights Etinosa Oliha for the IBF middleweight world championship at the 3Arena in Dublin, live on Sky Sports; McKenna has an ambitious vision to unify world championships at middleweight before eventually fighting at heavyweight

Aaron McKenna is not short of ambition. The Irish middleweight fights for the world title this Saturday, live on Sky Sports.

But his plans do not finish with Etinosa Oliha and the IBF belt this weekend. He wants to "clean up" the division, go undisputed and eventually finish his career as a heavyweight.

It sounds preposterous for an albeit tall, but fairly scrawny 160-pounder. McKenna, though he says it with a smile, sounds serious that this is his long-time vision.

"That's something we talked about a lot, finishing up at heavyweight. I'm six foot three now and I have a very long reach as well. My body's the type of body that could fill out easily enough as well weight-wise," McKenna told Sky Sports.

"Once I'm done at 160lbs, take over 168 and then 175. But by the time I finish out, I plan to have at least one fight at heavyweight.

"In the heavyweight division now, sometimes it just takes good footwork and boxing to beat them. It's different from the heavyweights back in the day."

McKenna, it's safe to say, has an eerie confidence in himself. His first task is to become a world champion against a dangerous opponent on Saturday.

"He's a very good fighter, 22-0, strong, he'll be game and any man that's fighting for world titles is going to be giving it their all," McKenna said of Oliha. "I know what I have to do.

"I'm more than ready for it," he added. "It doesn't matter what he brings, whether he comes forward, whether he goes back, I'm ready for everything. I've trained for every style possible my whole life. Whatever he brings, I'm just focused on what I'm doing and what I'm going to do in there."

This, he insists, is the start of a charge through the middleweight division. He wants to take on the other champions. Carlos Adames, the WBC titlist and Denzel Bentley, the new WBO belt-holder, will be in his sights.

"The middleweight division, it's been dying for years now. The last two big fighters in it were Canelo and GGG [Gennady Golovkin], so I kind of want to bring big-time boxing in the middleweight division and bring it back to life," McKenna declared.

"I've done a lot of sparring with [Adames] back in Robert Garcia's gym back in 2019. I was 19 at the time and he was mid-20s. I had no problem with him.

"He doesn't like my style of fighting. When you put it on him, he kind of doesn't like that sort of stuff.

"[Bentley] would be another good fight. He's a world champion now, so if he wants to take the fight, I'd definitely take it because the name of the game is to unify, become the best in the division.

"But all I'm focused on right now is this Saturday. I have a job to do with Oliha and that's becoming world champion and I will become world champion."

What could be next?

McKenna's manager Mike Borao told Sky Sports: "Obviously the focus right now is squarely on this Saturday for Aaron McKenna - he has to get past Etinosa Oliha first before anyone starts mapping out the future.

"That said, Denzel Bentley is a very intriguing possibility. Aaron is the type of fighter who goes out there and delivers for the fans, and few things light up a boxing crowd quite like a proper Ireland vs UK showdown.

"Bentley does have a tough mandatory in Yoenli Hernandez waiting in the wings, though, so it will be interesting to see how things develop.

"In any event, Aaron McKenna has a very exciting future with endless possibilities on Zuffa Boxing."