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 world title fight on Saturday, 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 to get a fight for the world title and for it to be in Ireland makes it 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.”
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Aaron McKenna talks up his IBF world middleweight title fight in Dublin where he takes on Etinosa Oliha. Ahead of the bout live on Sky Sports, Andy Scott talks to the Irishman.
McKenna believes victory would put him in the frame for more high profile fights.
“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.
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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 168lbs. 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.”
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He knows though that Oliha harbours his own 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 open a lot of doors for me.”
Watch Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha fight for the IBF world middleweight title in Dublin on Saturday, live on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream boxing with no contract.