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Irish Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
McKenna says 'this is only the start' as he puts middleweight division on notice
Aaron McKenna warned 'this is only the start' after recording the biggest win of his career to date on Saturday night. The Monaghan man knocked Liam Smith down on his way to a unanimous decision victory, winning the WBA International Middleweight title in the process at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It was a coming of age performance from the 25-year-old, who dominated the 12-round contest against the former WBO world light-middleweight champion, 11 years his senior, on the Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn card. "This is only the start," McKenna, who was given the nod by the three judges (119-108, 117-109, and 118-108), told the Irish Mirror afterwards. "I'm going to keep my feet on the ground and stay focused until I become world champion. This isn't even 10% of what I can do." He added: "What a feeling that was. I got the chance to show myself on the biggest stage in the world and with an audience that big, a packed out arena. "There was pressure on me, no one gave me a chance. All the boxing experts said Smith was too experienced, so what a time to do it." McKenna showed his slick boxing skills and fantastic movement throughout and put the rest of the middleweight division on notice. 'The Silencer' used his jab brilliantly, also catching Smith with numerous right hands and uppercuts as he maintained his range superbly, switching stances at times. The now 20-0 fighter will face anyone next and on the basis of that performance there probably won't be too many putting their hands up to share the ring with him. "It sets up anything," continued McKenna. "I believe I'm the best fighter in the middleweight division. I want any fight next. "You have the main event as well tonight. Whether they take the fight or not, I don't know. Eddie Hearn said in an interview during the week that if I win this fight it's going to be massive for Irish boxing, that I'm the next superstar coming through. "So, you could take big fights back to Ireland." McKenna also paid tribute to his opponent, who has previously shared the ring with the likes of Canelo Álvarez, and Jaime Munguía, with Saturday's defeat just his fifth from 39 fights. It was Smith's first fight since being stopped by Eubank Jr in the tenth round of their rematch in September 2023, eight months after 'Beefy' knocked him out in Manchester. The game Liverpool man kept going right until the final bell when many others would have looked for a way out in similar circumstances and managed to survive until the end of the bout after being floored by a left hook to the body in the final round. "A win like that is a nice scalp to have on your record," said McKenna. "What a legend the sport of Liam Smith is and it was an honour to share the ring with him. I watched him growing up when he was world champion. I watched his fight live against Canelo and now I got to share the ring with him. "I not only beat him, but dropped him along the way too. It's going to do wonders for my career."
Irish Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Aaron McKenna beats Liam Smith with boxing masterclass on Eubank Jr vs Benn card
Aaron McKenna produced a boxing masterclass to record the biggest victory of his career over Liam Smith on Saturday night. Fighting on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn card at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Monaghan man outclassed the former world champion throughout the 12-round contest, winning via unanimous decision. McKenna caused the Liverpool native, 11 years the 25-year-old's senior, all sorts of problems during the fight, using his jab brilliantly throughout and knocking him down with a body shot in the final round. He showed the wide range of shots he possesses in his armoury over the 36 minutes and a game Smith couldn't find an answer to McKenna's magnificence. McKenna felt out his opponent early on, but the jab was causing Smith problems from the start. As the bout went on, the Irishman began to put together lovely combinations and went to the body, while also throwing the odd uppercut. 'The Silencer' silenced any doubters he had with the dazzling display and now has massive options moving forward after winning the WBA International Middleweight title with the victory. McKenna had described the bout as 'life-changing' beforehand, while promoter Eddie Hearn said the event was the biggest boxing show the UK has ever seen with 65,000 in attendance. Carl Frampton was working as a pundit on the bout and had McKenna well ahead on his scorecard, with the three judges at ringside agreeing as they scored the bout 119-108, 117-109 and 118-108 in his favour. The victory moves the Smithborough man to 20-0 as a professional, with ten of his victories coming by knockout. The bout was former light-middleweight world champion Smith's first fight since being stopped by Eubank Jr in the tenth round of their rematch in September 2023, eight months after the Liverpool native knocked him out in Manchester. 'Beefy' has also shared the ring with the likes of Canelo Álvarez, and Jaime Munguía, with Saturday's defeat just his fifth from 39 fights. Smith had claimed pre-fight that he would be too experienced for McKenna, but it was the Monaghan man who looked levels above the veteran. While McKenna and Smith went to war on Saturday night, they are both Liverpool fans and will be hoping to see the Reds clinch their 20th league title when they host Spurs at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
