Aaron McKenna sparred with Katie Taylor and holds his own world title ambitions
Friday 15 December 2017 13:25, UK
Irish teenager Aaron McKenna has tested his skills in sparring sessions with Katie Taylor and holds his own world title ambitions after making his professional debut in Las Vegas.
The 18-year-old was considered one of Ireland's hottest amateur talents before he signed a deal with Golden Boy promotions and fought on last weekend's bill at the famous Mandalay Bay resort, picking up a maiden points victory in the paid ranks.
McKenna previously trained at the High Performance Unit in Dublin and revealed how he sparred with Taylor, six months before she went to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Taylor has since won the WBA lightweight title after turning professional and made a successful first defence against Jessica McCaskill on Wednesday as she battled to a unanimous decision win at York Hall.
"I watched her fight, she was brilliant, and she's doing well for Irish boxing," said McKenna. "I used to spar Katie Taylor. They were brilliant spars, absolutely cracking spars. She's very tough, she's very fast, with good combinations.
"She's very mentally strong and she's always focused. Outside the ring, she's a lovely person, very nice. She told me to always put in the hard work and focus."
The Monaghan welterweight is basing his fledgling career in America and will benefit from the guidance of Golden Boy bosses Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins, two boxing legends in the States.
After fighting in the 'Boxing Capital', McKenna is eager to make his name in the US and hopes to return to the ring in early 2018.
"You know it's great to be fighting in such a great place. Las Vegas is where all the big fights are and it was a special night for me to be fighting in such a great venue," he said.
"I've had a lot of experience at such a young age, 18, to be fighting in Las Vegas and I'll be fighting in places like that, Boston and New York. It's going to be great."
With the experience of over 150 amateur fights, McKenna is hoping to enjoy a similar rapid rise as Taylor and hopes to bring another world belt back to Ireland.
"I want to become a world champion and Ireland's greatest ever boxer," he said. "I think I could do it in three years."
