Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha will fight for the vacant IBF middleweight title at 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland on Zuffa 10, making it the first sanctioning body world title fight that Zuffa Boxing will host.
Also set to appear on the bill, in chief support, is Callum Walsh, 16-0 (11 KOs), making his second Zuffa appearance when he takes on the wily Tyler Denny, 21-4-3, of Rowley Regis, England in a middleweight 10-rounder.
Italy’s Oliha, 22-0 (10 KOs), is yet to prove himself at world level. The same might be said for McKenna, 20-0 (10 KOs), but the Los Angeles-based Irishman did achieve a lopsided 12-round points victory over the fading Liam Smith in his most recent bout 11 months ago on the undercard of the first clash between Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn.
McKenna filled the void left by Shakiel Thompson, who had been nominated by the IBF to tackle Oliha for the vacant belt only to get knocked out by Brad Pauls in a minor upset.
The Irishman was, however, a standout amateur with more than 150 wins in the vested code and multiple national championships.