Aaron McKenna targeting 'statement win' against Liam Smith

RTÉ News​

22-04-2025

Aaron McKenna is eyeing a "statement win" against former world champion Liam Smith on Saturday night.
The unbeaten Monaghan man (19-0-0) faces the Liverpudlian - who at 36 is 11 years his elder - for the WBA international middleweight belt, on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Rising star McKenna said: "I've been waiting for a moment like this for a good while now. I've been calling for big fights these past two or three years.
"It's a fight I'm really excited for. I'm looking forward to it. It's just incredible to be part of the first ever Ring Magazine card. I know there's going to be a lot of eyes on me.
"This card is getting a lot of attention, so I plan to make the most of it and make a statement win come Saturday night."
Smith (33-4-1), whose most recent bout was a rematch loss to Eubank Jr in September 2023, acknowledges that "Aaron McKenna is coming to try and finish my career - it's not that time just yet.
"I've had experiences on all of the big stages. It's all irrelevant come Saturday night.
"I've done enough rounds in the gym. I've had enough fights over the years. I can't really blame ring rust. I'm looking forward to Saturday and I'm looking forward to being back.
"It's been a long time out and I'll be back with a bang."
A back injury hampered Smith in the lead-up to his defeat to Eubank Jr while a virus scuppered a planned comeback bout with Josh Kelly last September.
"I've got a point to prove," he admits. "I was horrendous last time out in the ring.
"You can't announce you're back until you perform under the lights. I need to win by any means necessary, but I need to put on a performance too for the people who have written me off after Eubank 2.
"I wasn't injured last time, I fell ill - which is even more frustrating for me coming off the back of a horrendous injury that was so evident to see when I fought Chris in the rematch. I feel I'm in a good place now.
"I want to beat Aaron and beat Aaron well. And then I'll call whoever I need to call out."
Saturday's card will be a pay per view event, on streaming platform DAZN and Sky Box Office.
Meanwhile, Eubank Jr has vowed to be the matador and treat Conor Benn like a bull.
The 34-3-0 Eubank Jr's rivalry with Benn was escalated when he slapped his opponent with an egg in a February press conference. Benn blamed his two failed drugs tests, which resulted in their 2022 bout being cancelled, on the over consumption of eggs.
Eubank Jr said: "This fight isn't about size or weight, it's about skill and dedication, it's about expertise and all of those areas I excel in. I have many years of experience over Conor Benn and that will be the deciding factor on the night.
"I'm a complete fighter, I've been doing this for so long now, I've forgotten more things than he even knows and that will show on the night.
"The procedure will be parliamentary, everything will go the way I want it to go, I will be like a matador in the ring and Conor Benn will be the bull."
Saturday will be Benn's third fight since 2022 as he continues his bid to become a future world champion.
Victories over Rodolfo Orozco in 2023 and Peter Dobson in 2024 mean Benn is confident he can continue his unbeaten run in the capital.
"It's always personal. People say it's business, this is not business, it never is," Benn added.
"If you're trying to put your hands on me and render me unconscious then it's not business and this is personal.
"I want to get my hands on him badly, I wish I had done already and we were fighting tonight. The hard work is done and I'm excited to get in there and do a number on him."
Chris Eubank Sr was not in attendance at the grand arrivals following comments last week where he labelled his son a "disgrace" for his pre-fight antics.
Eubank Sr fought Benn's father Nigel Benn twice in the 90s and their rivalry has fuelled the animosity between their sons.