McKenna: I will become world champion on Saturday
· RTÉ Sport · 2026-08-07 · nguồn gốc
Monaghan boxer Aaron McKenna is confident that his hard work will pay off this weekend as he goes for the IBO middleweight title against Italian Etinosa Olhia in Dublin.
The 27-year-old, who is an impressive 20-0 since turning professional back at the age of 18, says a win on Saturday would be the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.
"I will become world champion", McKenna told RTÉ Sport.
"I believe I'm the best middleweight in the world, I've been saying it for years. I'm a very universal fighter, I can fight orthodox southpaw on the front foot or back foot. That's stuff he's not used to so I'm going in there to take him to the trenches.
"But getting the opportunity to fight in Ireland for the world title and headlining the event is what dreams are made of and I'm going to make the most of it and bring that world title back to Monaghan."
Home support and pride is a clear driver for McKenna, who will have brother Steven on Saturday's undercard. Having spent recent days back home in Monaghan, the fighter has noticed the well wishes, and refuses to take it for granted.
"I see all the appreciation from Monaghan fans and I see all the signs - there are signs everywhere I go, when I'm going into the gym in town or even on the way up to Dublin I've seen like 20 different signs from people.
"It's really good to see that sort of stuff and I really do appreciate it and now it's my job to go and provide a good performance for them and bring that world title back home to Monaghan and have many magic nights here in Ireland.
"I came up to Dublin on Tuesday but I was in Monaghan before I came up and, again, yeah I've seen all the support and appreciation even online, on the radio, I'm seeing it all so it's great to see that sort of stuff."
Saturday promises to be just the latest chapter of an already impressive career, regardless of the result. It will also be McKenna's first bout in Dublin as a professional.
'The Silencer' has been fortunate enough to fight everywhere from the US to Japan, and even in a Premier League ground last time out, so the host venue is unlikely to disturb him.
"I've fought in a lot of good places, I'm very experienced in that sense.
"I've been all over the world. My debut was in the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and I enjoyed that one.
"I fought in Japan which was a good experience and then my last fight was probably my favourite because it was at the Tottenham Hotspur (Stadium) and it held up to 65,000 people and walking into that arena when it was full was unbelievable."
And yet, there is no place like home. A sell-out crowd baying for victory down at Dublin's dockland venue is sure to get the blood pumping for the middleweight fighter.
"Anyone I've ever talked to that's fought here at the 3Arena, they say the atmosphere is something they've never seen before and that's what you get with the Irish people," he added.
"They're the best fans in the world, so once I step in there on fight night I'm expecting a really good, loud atmosphere, but I'm going to make sure and put in a good performance for them and show them that world title."
As for now, his focus is clear - fight and win.
"I'm just solely focused on what goes on in the ring, no outside distractions whatsoever and I've always kind of been like that from a young age. I've kept my focus and discipline and it's just the way I am really.
"Once that first bell goes, it's a different story in there."