ON Saturday night, a sold-out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be eagerly awaiting a middleweight clash fuelled by a family feud and hostility: Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn. Amongst the collection of entrees designed to keep fans in the mood for the exciting main event, one of Eubank Jr’s former opponents, Liam Smith, faces off with undefeated Aaron McKenna, also at middleweight.
Liam Smith is a known entity in the boxing world, having fought and defeated one-half of the main event in his recent fights, and perhaps more importantly, a former WBO super-middleweight champion. Aaron McKenna, on the other hand, is a lesser-known entity to the masses despite holding a top 15 ranking with the IBF and a perfect 19-fight professional career.
Don’t be fooled by this disparity in popularity, however, as this fight is one of many questions and hopefully answers, scheduled for the WBA International title. Has Smith still got what it takes? Will McKenna be able to handle the step-up in opponent? Both will likely be answered on Saturday.
600 days after his rematch loss to Eubank, ‘Beefy’ has not yet stepped back into a professional ring, and the 12-round fight presented to him this weekend will be, one would imagine, a baptism of fire where any signs of ring rust will need to be quickly shed. But the 36-year-old is no stranger to a fight, with 38 bouts with all levels of fighters, including the dizzy heights of champion and icon Saul Canelo Alvarez.
The question marks around Smith in this fight ultimately remain about how ready he will be for a fight, given his injury issues, and how much he will want it as he approaches the end of a very successful career. It is a certainty, though, that if he can show some of the levels previously displayed, then he will be more than just competitive in this one.
McKenna, meanwhile, is a young and hungry fighter who will be looking to seize this opportunity to capture the admiration of an enthralled stadium crowd and many more watching at home. Turning pro at 18 despite an offer to represent Ireland at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, McKenna has impressed under the previous tutelage of the Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, and at just 25 years old has experienced a lot in the way of professional boxing.
The Irishman was a talented amateur who has now become a sharp and powerful middleweight, with an impressive 6-foot-1 frame that he uses to his advantage. Nicknamed the ‘Silencer’, McKenna will certainly be looking to do just that to anyone who suggests he is not ready to mix it at this level.
On paper, this fight should be a fan-friendly and exciting fight between two no-nonsense talents at noticeably different stages of their career. Smith’s experience weighed up against how fit and ready he is will be the make-or-break in deciding which of these two will come out on top.
Liam Smith vs. Aaron McKenna Fight Prediction
All of that said, I would predict McKenna to pick up the victory in this one, on the balance of probability, due to doubting whether Liam Smith will be ready to go against a game and active young fighter. I do believe, however, that it will be competitive and exciting, perhaps a similar feel to Callum Smith vs Joshua Buatsi in Saudi Arabia.
This time, however, it will not be a Smith brother picking up a unanimous decision victory, but instead one of the two McKenna boxing brothers. Perhaps setting up a nice payday against Chris Eubank Jr down the line.
Watch Eubank Jr vs Benn on Saturday 26th April live on DAZN, the global home of boxing with over 185+ fights per year.
