Aaron McKenna is already looking at major opportunities beyond his next fight, including a possible move up to super middleweight for a future clash with Canelo Alvarez.
McKenna will make his Zuffa Boxing debut on August 8 at Dublin’s 3Arena, where he faces unbeaten Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight title. The fight gives the 26-year-old a chance to become world champion in front of a home crowd.
Canelo, meanwhile, is set to face Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the WBC super middleweight title. The Mexican star is coming off his defeat to Terence Crawford and will be trying to reclaim one of the belts he previously held.
McKenna knows the immediate focus must be Oliha, but he believes winning the IBF middleweight title would give him options at both 160lbs and 168lbs.
“On August 8, becoming world champion will open a lot of doors for me,” McKenna said.
The Irishman said he would be open to unification fights at middleweight, but also admitted that a jump to super middleweight for the right opportunity would interest him.
“Canelo is one of the biggest names in boxing right now,” McKenna said. “I’m definitely open to fighting for titles at 168 as well.”
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