Boxing

Keys to Victory: Where will Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha land major damage?

DAZN

8, Aug

Keys to Victory: Where will Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha land major damage?

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Aaron McKenna is staring down an opportunity of a lifetime Saturday night.

Not only can the undefeated fighter become a world champion, but he could do it in his native Ireland. McKenna will have the opportunity against the fellow unbeaten Etinosa Oliha with the vacant IBF middleweight title on the line at Dublin’s 3 Arena as the headliner to Zuffa Boxing 10.

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McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) is coming off his biggest win yet in defeating former junior middleweight world champion Liam Smith via a lopsided unanimous decision, dropping the veteran with a punishing left hook to the body in the final round of their April 2025 scrap. Meanwhile, Italian fighter Oliha (22-0, 10 KOs) enters the bout coming off a third-round TKO of Ivan Njegac in September.

Will McKenna realize his potential by becoming a world champion in Ireland? Or will Oliha play major spoiler to that dream by upsetting the Irish fighter on his home soil? With the stakes incredibly high, DAZN News examines the Keys to Victory for both fighters.

Aaron McKenna’s Keys to Victory

Launch lead uppercut

Etinosa Oliha has a penchant of hunching his shoulders and dropping his head low when angling and barging into the pocket. This tendency should behoove McKenna to launch the lead uppercut as the punch could crash into the momentum of Oliha’s forward-fighting force for big results.

Bang away at the body

Another way for McKenna to disrupt Oliha’s pressure is to make crunching deposits to the Italian fighter’s body. These unforgiving shots could stifle Oliha’s stalking and springing with attempts, even crumpling him over time as McKenna was able to do with Liam Smith with a 12^th-round knockdown in their fight.

Lean into experience

McKenna said it during Sky Sports’ head-to-head segment between the fighters: “I’ve fought all over the world.”

Those frequent flyer miles have bolstered the Irish fighter with an accruement of rich ring savvy that he must lean into against an Oliha who has only competed in Germany and his native Italy, having never fought the quality of boxer like McKenna.

Etinosa Oliha’s Keys to Victory

Generate bursts of pressure without telegraphing

Aaron McKenna let it be known to Etinosa Oliha’s face that he’s comfortable on the front or back foot. Well, Oliha must test that assertion by generating bursts of pressure.

The Italian fighter demonstrates an ability to do this well. But to defeat McKenna in Ireland, Oliha will likely have to do this better than he’s ever before and without telegraphing his piecing together of punches. This means stringing together forward-fighting blows with speed, angles and accuracy, while not rounding his shoulders and telegraphing his offense with his head sunk too low.

Segue from the body to an overhand right

Fight footage of Oliha shows segueing from the body to a big overhand right is one of his most potent combinations. This combo could reach paydirt if he’s able to land it flush against an unsuspecting McKenna who has four inches of height over the Italian fighter.

Stay composed

Yes, Oliha has an unblemished professional ledger just like McKenna. However, he lacks the rounds against quality fighters and the big platform experience that McKenna touts.

Therefore, McKenna must stay composed. That means not allowing himself to get overzealous and erratic with his punching attempts as McKenna's ring savvy will make the Italian fighter pay for any mistakes.

Who has the edge in McKenna vs. Oliha?

Analysis: DAZN News' Mark Lelinwalla

The aggressive manner at which Etinosa Oliha bursts through the pocket with pressure can be turned against him if Aaron McKenna clocks his timing. That's what I'm expecting to happen toward a roaring victory in Dublin for the Irish fighter. I'm predicting a stoppage victory for McKenna who will hoist the IBF middleweight world title by the night's end to the home crowd's delight. And look for that lead uppercut to have its say.