Aaron McKenna believes winning the middleweight title will pave the way for fights against some of the biggest names in boxing.
Ireland’s McKenna gets his dream fight for the world title on Saturday.
The fight will be live on Sky Sports when he boxes Etinosa Oliha for the IBF championship at the 3Arena in Dublin.
“It’s something I’ve been dreaming of since I started boxing at six years old. Finally, getting a fight for the world title in Ireland makes this opportunity extra special,” McKenna told Sky Sports.
“I have goosebumps just thinking about fighting in there with that Irish atmosphere.
“20 years I’ve been boxing and it’s all going to come down to this night.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
“I want to become undisputed and then become a multiple weight world champion. I’m 6ft 2, I can go all the way to heavyweight with my size! By the time my career’s over I’ll be fighting at heavyweight! That said, I want to clean up the middleweight division because it definitely is there to be cleaned up and just have the biggest fights possible,” he said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Speaking ahead of his IBF world middleweight title fight against Etinosa Oliha, Aaron McKenna claims he’s the best middleweight in the world.
He would welcome a fight with Chris Eubank Jr. The Brighton star, the son of British legend Chris Eubank, last boxed at middleweight and is expected to return at 168 lbs. McKenna is convinced it could happen
“100 per cent,” he said.
“Try and get a win for the Eubank name [in Ireland],” McKenna urged. “You had Eubank [Senior] and Steve Collins; they fought in Cork on Sky Sports.
So you never know. If he wants to run a similar story back, we can do it in Ireland on Sky Sports again; just recreate history.
“After this show on August 8, Irish boxing will have a big star and it’s going to bring massive, massive headlines and a new audience to Irish boxing.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Aaron McKenna talks about his unlikely friendship with Kendrick Lamar after meeting at a training session with his brother.
He knows, though, that Oliha harbours those ambitions. “He’s a very good fighter, strong; he’ll be game and any man that’s fighting for world titles is going to be giving it their all,” McKenna said.
His faith in himself, though, is total. “I know what I have to do,” he added. “I’m more than ready for it.
“The main goal has always been the world title since I started boxing and I’ve always believed I would become world champion. So on August 8, becoming world champion will definitely create many opportunities for me.
