Aaron McKenna feels he is ready for middleweight world title opportunity

British middleweight contender Aaron McKenna believes he is ready for a crack at a world title and has tasked promoter Mick Hennessy with securing him a spot on the colossal Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford card on September 12.

The unbeaten Irish star maintained his ascent up the 160lbs world rankings with an impressive victory over former super-welterweight title-holder Liam Smith last time out in front of a packed out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

That victory on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn - undoubtedly the most significant of his career - cemented his position as a bona-fide world level operator and edged him closer to a long sought after world title shot.

Ranked number 10 by the Ring Magazine, McKenna is aware of the fact that he may still have to bide his time in pursuit of a potentially life-changing opportunity, but nonetheless, feels he is ready to step up to the plate if and when he gets the green light.

"I'm only 25 and I want to take over it (the middleweight division)," he told Ring Magazine.

It doesn't matter who it is as long as I get the opportunity for the world title. Any time, any place, anywhere. I’ll take any of them on!

- Aaron McKenna (The Ring Magazine)

"They're all good fighters - they’re all world champions; if you're a world champion you're a good fighter.

"My manager, Mick Hennessy, is working hard in the background at the minute so I leave all that to him and my team. I do all the fighting and they do all the hard work in the background."

Riyadh Season bank-roller Turki Alalshikh recently announced plans to shake-up undercards for upcoming fight cards, suggesting that 'young, hungry fighters' would likely be given the opportunity to shine as opposed to handing older, arguably bigger name fighters undeserved hefty paydays.

That news has seemingly opened the door for fighters like McKenna to showcase their credentials on even grander stages, and having already proved his worth on the bumper Eubank Jr - Benn bill, he be is now targetting a slot on the undercard of Canelo vs Crawford.

"I got to show myself on a big stage last time so why not again?" the confident 25-year-old said.

"I think it would be great to have another world title fight on the Canelo-Crawford card, especially for the middleweight division.

"I would definitely bring excitement to the middleweight division and it's what it needs to bring it back to the old days of middleweight boxing

"I want to be the one who's going to clean up the division, unify it and be undisputed."

McKenna was previously on the verge of agreeing a showdown with IBF and WBO champion Janibel Alimkhanuly before opting to face Smith in London.

However, it's believed that a clash with the unified title-holder - who is largely perceived to be the best 160lbs operator on the planet - remains in the pipeline.

Other potential world title opportunities for the unbeaten Irish star could come against WBA champion Erislandy Lara or WBC title-holder Carlos Adames.

Mark Mothershaw

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