Aaron McKenna makes weight for Etinosa Oliha title fight: 'Once I become world champion I’m going to take over'

Aaron McKenna may be tall, and have a frame that he claims could one day carry him to heavyweight, but he made the weight well on Friday.

On Saturday, live on Sky Sports at the 3Arena in Dublin, McKenna fights Etinsoa Oliha for the IBF championship.

Both came in under the middleweight limit, McKenna was 159.6lb, Oliha 159.1lb.

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McKenna proved himself world class with a tremendous victory over Liam Smith, a former WBO 154lb champion, last year. He wants to demonstrate his quality again against Oliha and become Ireland's first middleweight world champion since Andy Lee.

"It did definitely open a lot of eyes, my last fight [against Smith], because of the fashion I did it in, it was a really dominant fight in my favour," McKenna told Sky Sports.

"To fight a former world champion in Liam Smith was a massive name to have on my record. A lot of people were predicting me to lose. So that was another bonus, once I beat him in the fashion I did, it opened a lot of eyes and really got my name out there.

"Going into that fight I was the underdog and not many people gave me a chance. But I knew that was my time to really show the world how good of a boxer I am. Not many people expected me to have that style but I've been saying it for years, of how good of a boxer I am.

"Now's another chance to really shine again."

McKenna is determined to build from here. "Once I become world champion I'm going to take over the division," he said.

"I want to clean up the division. The 160lb division is there to be cleaned up. So I want to become undisputed and then become a multiple-weight world champion.

"I want the biggest and best fights, I want to take on guys with undefeated records, or guys who are world champions and prove to myself I'm the best in the world. If I can't get the champions at 160lb, I'll take them on at 168lb, it doesn't matter to me. I'll take care of business on Saturday first."

On the undercard Callum Walsh fights Tyler Denny in a dangerous test. Walsh, who has spent much of his previous career at super-welter, was exactly on the 160lb limit. Denny was 159.7lb.

Light-heavyweight talent Joe Ward hopes to announce himself to the professional sport against hard-punching, unbeaten contender Artjom Kasparian.

Both made weight, Ward scaled 174.08lb and Kasparian was 174.2lb.

"It's going to be unbelievable," Walsh told Sky Sports. "It's going to be a great card the whole way through.

"The buzz is going to be high. Quick fights, good fights back to back and keep the buzz going and by the time I come out it's going to be unbelievable in there.

"We can continue to show that Ireland does produce some of the best fighters in the world."

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.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Aaron McKenna makes weight for Etinosa Oliha title fight: 'Once I become world champion I’m going to take over'