Irish McKenna to fight for vacant IBF middleweight title

Irish boxer Aaron McKenna will challenge for a world title in his home country for the first time this Saturday, August 8, 2026, when he faces Italy's Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight championship. The 12-round main event headlines a professional boxing card at Dublin's 3Arena, marking a significant moment for both the 27-year-old contender and the promotion staging the event.

McKenna, from Monaghan, enters the bout with a perfect 20-0 professional record, including 10 knockouts. He earned this title opportunity following a dominant unanimous decision victory over former world champion Liam Smith in April 2025. A decorated amateur with over 150 wins and eight Irish national titles, McKenna has fought professionally in the United States, Japan, and Britain, but Saturday will be his first professional bout in Ireland.

His opponent, Oliha, is 22-0 with 10 knockouts and is a former IBO champion. The 27-year-old, who fights out of a Berlin-based stable, has competed exclusively in Italy and Germany. The IBF title became vacant in March after the organization stripped Janibek Alimkhanuly. Oliha was initially ordered to face Shakiel Thompson, but after Thompson was knocked...