It was a historic night for Irish boxing last night as Kellie Harrington sealed her place in a second consecutive Olympic final after victory in her semifinal in Paris. However the Dubliner wasn't the only Irish boxer with something to celebrate.
While all eyes were on Paris, over at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley, Monaghan man Stevie McKenna was fighting Joe Lawes for the WBC International Silver Super Welterweight Title. The two were fighting on the undercard of Zak Chelli vs Callum Simpson for the British and Commonwealth Super-Middleweight Titles.
'The Hitman' McKenna had the size advantage heading into this fight and claimed he would knock Laws out in the first round.
His promise almost came to fruition as the two slugged it out in pulsating first round which saw McKenna get a few shots in and grounding Lawes before hitting the deck himself after a ferocious hit from 'The Benwell Bomber'.
Monaghan's Stevie McKenna is a warrior.
He'd win his first belt tonight - the WBC International Silver Super Welterweight Title - when the fight was stopped in the third round. pic.twitter.com/GvQinO4Y0T
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) August 3, 2024
It wasn't the prettiest or most technical of fights but the old-school scrap had the crowd in Barnsley on their feet.
The fight would reach its climatic conclusion in the third round as Lawes corner threw in the towel after he was knocked down yet again.
STEVIE MCKENNA STOPS JOE LAWS! 🌟
What a fight! A three-round SLUGFEST! 🔥#ChelliSimpson | Live Now pic.twitter.com/gFnkIvx79u
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) August 3, 2024
And with that McKenna won the belt. The win puts The Hitman at 15-0 for his pro career including 14 knock outs, a stat he was quick to point out on Twitter after receiving his new belt. Meanwhile fans online were also quick to praise the two fighters for putting on such an entertaining fight.
AND THE NEW !!! 15-0 14 KOS 💣💣💣#Hitman pic.twitter.com/JuFpBMNPLL
— Stevie McKenna (@stevie_mckenna) August 3, 2024
Fight of the year. Brilliant.
— Lee B (@Burmanski) August 3, 2024
Laws like a bull in a china shop😂
— Dividend Growth (@Ranked90) August 3, 2024
Greatest 1st round ever seen in my life an absolute war
— Gary (@garoconnor87) August 3, 2024
It's been a great week for Irish sports in general with the three Gold medal already won with a couple more potentially on the way and now with McKenna adding another accolade to boost it's only getting better.
