“WHAT A WAY to start,” said Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions’ first bout to be broadcast live on Facebook at Hollywood’s Avalon Theater.
And Monaghan teenager Aaron McKenna, Ireland and Golden Boy’s youngest professional boxer at 19, appeared to enjoy his high-octane clash with Rolando Mendivil in Tinsel Town.
‘The Silencer’ from Smithborough, Co. Monaghan earned a 40-36 x3 unanimous decision victory over the game Mexican following four explosive rounds on Saturday night.
The eight-time Irish underage amateur champion moved to 5-0, 3KOs with an accomplished display, losing his mouthpiece in the third round of what was an enthralling if ultimately one-sided affair on a major night for his promotional banner and, more pertinently, his fledgeling professional career.
McKenna planted a precise left hook on Mendivil’s chin in the opening minute, finishing the first round strongly as he marched the Mexican back toward the ropes with sustained and concise pressure.
No sooner then the bell beckoned them out for the second did the two fighters trade with abandon, but the brave Mendivil – who entered the ring with a respectable record of 10-4, 3KOs – was stung on a couple of occasions by the marauding Monaghan man, who smashed him with an old-fashioned one-two to close an entertaining sophomore stanza.
Mendevil, a career-best test to date for the Irish teen sensation, came out firing to begin the third, and sneaked a thudding right uppercut through McKenna’s guard to catch his attention.
The Smithborough welterweight lost his mouthpiece moments later as the 22-year-old ‘Indio’ found further success. Typically, the action would have been halted here but, upon Mendivil’s suggestion to that very effect, McKenna shrugged and let loose to the admiration of the sizeable Hollywood crowd, unfurling a barrage of punishment upon his sporting opponent — albeit with fair warning.
‘The Silencer’ finished the penultimate round in charge, detonating a jab-straight-right combination at the bell before strutting to his corner.
The final round was his most emphatic: McKenna found the target almost immediately with two hurtful overhand rights before steering his own sharp uppercut through Mendivil’s guard. The Mexican journeyman was wobbled by another huge right over the top before swallowing a sequence of solid jabs as the final bell beckoned.
#USA #Boxing Card by @GoldenBoyBoxing with Prospect Aaron Mckenna @Aaronmckenna99 5-0 who defeated Mendivil Saturday:https://t.co/VKA4ZYz544
— the13thround.com (@the13thround) August 12, 2018
-#ko #boxe #boxeo #boks #TTR #sport #knockout #video #boxer #boxen #The13thRound #boksu #sports pic.twitter.com/FxJTNZ3z0W
If he had another couple of minutes, McKenna likely would have gotten his fourth career stoppage, but a fifth victory overall wasn’t a bad return for a tough but educational 12 minutes’ work.
He took a couple of concrete shots from a non-puncher – the type which he and head trainer Courage Tshabalala will seek to iron out over the coming months and years before they meet someone meaner.
However, the red-hot Irish prospect’s dominance was perhaps best captured by the punch stats: McKenna landed 136 of his 362 punches to Mendivil’s 70 from 324.
‘The Silencer’ aims to fight at least twice more in 2018 and is expected back in the ring next month.
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In fairness they did Sh#t the pants
if you can’t defend corners you’re going no where
He’s dead right. They were muck. Celtic in the past mighnt have been technically as good as other teams but they would be up for it on a big European night! No passion tonight. Virgil must have had his bags packed before kick off
They were dreadful. didn’t deserve anything from the game.
Griffiths pulled out on three occassions to contest for the ball in Malmo’s box in the second half. They dont deserve to be anywhere near the Champions League.
Malmo players thought Celtic were too busy thrash talking during the first leg. Might be something in that.
or it might be that they were simply better last night and actually wanted to win the game
celtic just cannot defend.
the sooner we fluck off zonal marking the better.. doesn’t work in schoolboy football and def doesn’t work for celtic! last night was embarrassing as we just didnt have any fight there…
We saw Dundalk push BATE very close this year – that same BATE team would have destroyed Celtic.
Celtic need a strong sevco. Im not a Celtic fan and I detest sevco and their fascist support but the difference is there are three or four clubs in Sweden who regularly give each other a game. The top three or four LOI teams would comfortably hold their own in the SPL
Gives an indication of standards in the SPL.
Ha ja Sverige! Ha ja Malmö!
very dissapointing malmo aren’t even that good like Celtic are gone to shite
Hopefully Aberdeen can break the old firm money monopoly this year, hopefully Celtic dont buy their best players and give the dons half a chance.
Poor team, poorly coached.