Sport

Golden Boy and Top Rank in tussle over Aaron McKenna

Aaron McKenna with his father Fergal (right), renowned trainer Freddie Roach and Courage Tshabalala, head scout and coach with management company Sheer Sport, at Roach’s famous Wild Card Gym
Aaron McKenna with his father Fergal (right), renowned trainer Freddie Roach and Courage Tshabalala, head scout and coach with management company Sheer Sport, at Roach’s famous Wild Card Gym Aaron McKenna with his father Fergal (right), renowned trainer Freddie Roach and Courage Tshabalala, head scout and coach with management company Sheer Sport, at Roach’s famous Wild Card Gym

ONE of Ireland’s hottest amateur talents has found himself at the centre of a tug-of-war between American promotional heavyweights Golden Boy and Top Rank.

Although much of the post-Olympic Games focus is on the futures of Michael Conlan and Paddy Barnes, Aaron McKenna looks set to beat them to the punch, with a decision expected within the next three weeks.

The Monaghan teenager had been tipped to turn over during the early part of the summer after setting up base in Los Angeles, with a possible debut in Mexico mooted.

However, having turned 17 on July 6, McKenna is now permitted to box Stateside as a result of his extensive amateur career, with the multi Irish title-winner clocking up over 200 fights so far.

Indeed, the last of those may have come at the National Stadium last weekend when, boxing at light-welterweight, the Old School boxer was edged out by Olympic’s Gabriel Dossen in the Irish U18 final.

Considering how close McKenna had seemed to joining the pro ranks in recent months, it was something of a surprise to see him turn up in Dublin last weekend.

“We’re not fully signed up yet, he hasn’t got a pro fight yet, so we took the opportunity to get him a bit of action in the U18s while we’re home,” said father Fergal, himself a highly-respected coach with Old School BC.

“We had to come home as a result of visa constraints, but we’ll hopefully be starting off where we left off. Aaron’s a very decorated amateur, but he has more of a pro style. If you saw him in working with the pros, it’s clear he’s made for the pro game.

“His style of fighting is aggressive, he loves intimidating boxers, going in and closing them down and outworking them. His physicality’s good, his chin’s good, his whole commitment to the pro game is good - it’s him that wants to go this route. He has his heart set on being a world champion.”

McKenna has certainly caught the eye sparring at gyms across America’s west coast, with the likes of renowned trainer Freddie Roach and former super-bantamweight world champion Wayne McCullough among those impressed by the Smithboro lad.

And with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy - home of Ballybofey banger Jason Quigley - and Top Rank keen to secure his signature, the future looks bright.

“Some very big decisions have to be made,” said Fergal McKenna.

“Once you have options, you have to be very careful. Once you move into the pro game, there’s no turning back - you have to be very careful and get everything right.

“It’s very hard not to talk to them [promotional companies] because, when you’re getting opportunities like that for a 17-year-old, if you walk away and don’t take them seriously, do you get them again when he’s 19 or 20? We’ll be making a decision very shortly, within the next two or three weeks. Everything should be concluded by then.”

Considering his tender years, it is a potentially huge step for McKenna - both in terms of the change in lifestyle, as well as the switch from amateur to pro.

But his father has no concerns about his son’s ability to adapt: “Aaron’s made a big impression in the gyms over here, sparring with guys with 25 and 30 fights and more then holding his own," he added.

“Here, everybody’s a wee bit tentative about turning pro so young but, over there, lots of boxers turn pro at 17 or 18. It’s not looked upon as a concern at all, but it’s different here.

“It’s a very exciting step, one he’s really up for and he has my total support. He’s very fresh and young, but he also has the maturity and the ability to do it.”

THE president of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has claimed Ireland's boxers signed a contract saying they would not place bets on the Olympics before travelling to Rio de Janeiro.

Pat Ryan’s comments come as two of Ireland’s boxers find themselves at the centre of an International Olympic Council (IOC) investigation into allegations of online betting during the games.

The IOC rules state Olympians cannot place bets on the games as it may "infringe" on the "course or result of the competition". Ryan said every member of Team Ireland has attended workshops, where they were briefed on what would be considered unacceptable behaviour while representing their country.

The Portlaoise man claimed there was "absolutely" no way the pair would not have known they were acting outside the regulations: "They have all attended numerous seminars,” he said.

“All the Olympians have signed contracts and the contracts are very explicit. There are regulations involving gambling, which bans them from participating in betting on Olympics events and providing inside information to gamblers. So it’s very explicit and they are aware of this regulation.

"What we will do is await the completion of the IOC's investigation and, when we receive a report on the same and the report from the manager, then we will be in a position to take the necessary disciplinary action.

"At the moment, there are a number of allegations. We are just awaiting as to who is involved in this, when did it take place, was it before the Olympics or during the Olympics and the level and extent of this alleged betting offence."

Ryan said he had not yet spoken to the boxers at the centre of the controversy, but intended to do so in the coming days.

BRETT McGINTY continued his impressive run of form this year by taking the Irish U18 title at the National Stadium last Friday night.

The Oak Leaf welterweight, who won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in September 2015, scored a third round stoppage against Bay City’s Paul Ryan to add to his burgeoning reputation.

The previous week, the Donegal native had stopped Rathkeale’s Jamie Harty in the first round before taking care of Sligo City’s Jordan Myers on August 20.

There was further Ulster joy last weekend as Clonard’s Conor Quinn took the U18 flyweight title, beating Jordan Halpin from Waterford. Quinn’s club-mate Conor McCourt, Old School’s Terry McEntee and Paul McCullagh from St John Bosco all lost out in their deciders.