Aaron McKenna became the vacant IBF middleweight champion on August 8 in Dublin, defeating Etinosa Oliha by unanimous decision over 12 rounds.
The official scorecards were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112, bringing McKenna's record to 21-0 and marking Oliha's first professional defeat. Four days after his victory, McKenna's position in a major middleweight ranking improved from sixth to third. This rise reflects his championship win against a previously unbeaten contender.
McKenna's victory was characterized by sustained activity and forward pressure, securing him at least eight rounds on every official card. Both fighters had 10 knockout victories on their records prior to the fight. The 12-round distance of the bout also provides a complete performance sample for McKenna, which will be valuable for future opponents and his first title defense.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by NewsDay Zimbabwe.
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