Barry McGuigan hails 'impressive' Aaron McKenna as he sends message to boxer
Barry McGuigan was impressed by Aaron McKenna's performance against Liam Smith last month and believes the 25-year-old has a massive future ahead of him.
'The Silencer' recorded the biggest victory of his career so far after knocking Smith down on his way to a unanimous decision victory on the huge Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn card in London.
McKenna dominated the 12-round contest against the former WBO world light-middleweight champion, knocking the Liverpool veteran down with a lovely body shot in the final round.
"Aaron McKenna is a very impressive young man, McGuigan told the Irish Mirror via Betway. "He produced a very impressive performance against Liam Smith. He's not really a puncher but more of a boxer. He can switch southpaw to orthodox and it was a really good performance.
"That left hook to the body in the 12th round was a fantastic shot and it was how I took most of my opponents out with the left hook to the body.
He continued: "I like Aaron's progress, the way he is developing and getting better. I wish him the best of luck."
McKenna won the WBA International Middleweight belt by beating Smith and McGuigan is backing him to follow in his footsteps by becoming another Monaghan man to fight for a world title.
Echoing the words of McKenna, the former WBA featherweight world champion and boxing 'hall of famer' believes there is plenty more to come from the Smithborough man.
"I think Aaron is definitely going to fight at world level," added the Clones Cyclone. "Erislandy Lara, Janibek Alimkhanuly and Carlos Adames are the champions.
"Aaron has to develop a little bit more before he fights for a world title and with the greatest respect, Liam Smith is a junior middleweight, he needs a fully-fledged middleweight who is going to test him.
"There's a way of how you develop and bring guys through. You start off with guys who are not so good and as they get better, you take guys on who are not as tired and are more of a challenge and test. Aaron still has to have that acid test.
"He needs another half a dozen fights or maybe four or five fights before he fights for a world title, but he is impressive, and I was hugely impressed with his performance and congratulations to him and his dad.
"Aaron did what I thought he would do. He's a good puncher but not a knockout artist but he is getting better and developing.
"Development and confidence is about becoming more reassured with punching range and learning how to slip and slide.
"Aaron was moving his head around very well and I loved the way he was switching from southpaw to orthodox, the way he was moving his upper body and landing those body shots.
"Liam Smith is a former light middleweight champion, so I expected it to go the distance but very impressed with his performance.
"He looks huge for the weight so I think inevitably he moves to 168lbs but does he do that before he fights for a world title? He is 25 so is still in development."
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