Aaron McKenna has become the new IBF middleweight world champion after defeating Etinosa Oliha by unanimous decision at the 3Arena in Dublin.
The 27-year-old Monaghan fighter secured the vacant title with judges scoring the contest 118-110,117-111 and 116-112 in his favour, completing a long-awaited homecoming in his first professional bout on Irish soil.
McKenna entered the fight after spending much of his career competing in England,the United States and further afield. Nine years into his professional career and more than two decades after beginning his journey in boxing, the title opportunity followed years of delays caused by promoter changes,the collapse of a tournament in Japan and other fights falling through.
His move to Zuffa Boxing ultimately provided the opportunity to fight for the vacant IBF belt in Dublin.
Oliha arrived with a perfect 22-fight record and had previously held an IBO world title. However,the Italian had never fought professionally outside Italy or Germany.
The opening round was cautious,with Oliha working behind his jab before landing two overhand rights in the second. McKenna gradually began using his significant reach advantage to find his opponent despite Oliha proving difficult to catch at times.
McKenna's team encouraged him to maintain the pressure,and the strategy increasingly took its toll as the contest progressed.
The Irish fighter used his larger frame effectively in the clinches and maintained a higher work rate. By the halfway stage,McKenna had thrown twice as many punches as Oliha while continuing to carry speed in his shots as the Italian began to tire.
McKenna continued to move through the gears,responding to Oliha's attacks and consistently landing scoring punches. He used a varied selection of shots to apply pressure,with a stoppage appearing possible at stages of the fight.
Oliha remained on his feet,but McKenna maintained control through the closing rounds. His jab from distance helped keep the Italian at bay as the final bell approached.
The Dublin crowd erupted at the conclusion before McKenna was officially announced as the winner and Ireland's newest world champion.
The victory places McKenna alongside Andy Lee and Steve Collins as Irish fighters to have claimed a middleweight world belt.
Zhanibek Alimkhanuly previously held the IBF title but is serving a one-year suspension after failing a drug test. McKenna's position in the governing body's rankings created the opportunity to contest the vacant championship,with Zuffa funding the Dublin event.
The victory was only McKenna's sixth fight in three years and his first bout in 16 months.
Amari Jones is the mandatory challenger,while Alimkhanuly could challenge again following his return. Carlos Adames also remains a potential opponent should unification become an option.
After the fight,McKenna paid tribute to his father Fergal and brother Stevie,acknowledging the sacrifices his family made throughout his journey to the world title.
