Stevie McKenna: ‘This Night Is All About Aaron – I’ll Set the Tone’
Stevie McKenna is ready to get the party started.
‘The Hitman’ wants to light the fuse before his younger brother’s potential world title fireworks.
Before Aaron McKenna challenges fights Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF world middleweight title at Dublin’s 3Arena on Saturday night, his action loving brother intends to set the tone in explosive fashion when he takes on Owen O’Neill on the undercard.
The Monaghan welterweight will box professionally in Ireland for the first time and sees his role as more than just picking up victory. He wants to pick up the crowd, ignite the atmosphere and then switch immediately into supportive big brother mode for the night’s main event.
“This is our big homecoming and big night of Irish boxing. It’s going to be massive,” McKenna said when speaking to SKY.
“I want to be on the card because it’s such a historic event, Aaron McKenna fighting for a world middleweight title. I want to be a part of it all.
“I want to go in and get a knockout and then I want to be in the corner for my brother… That’s my plan.
“This night is all about Aaron McKenna,” he said.
While his focus may ultimately turn to helping his brother fulfil a lifelong dream, the 29-year-old says he won’t neglect what he feels is his obligation to entertain.
The unbeaten prospect has built a reputation for chaos inside the ropes and he says fighting at home and in an all-Irish fight for the first time won’t change that.
“Sometimes I’m too exciting. My dad sometimes wants me to control myself, but sometimes I just can’t help myself,” he admitted.
“I like entertaining people. I like giving value for money… I’m probably the most exciting of all the fighters in the world to watch.
“There’s always something… fight-of-the-year contenders, round of the year. My last fight was only a minute. There was a lot hapened in that minute.”
Even with former BUI Celtic title holder O’Neill standing opposite him on Saturday, the Smithborough native has no intention of changing a formula that has made him one of the sport’s must-watch fighters.
“It will just be another typical Stevie McKenna performance.”
