The professional boxing scene in the middleweight category registers a new alternative after the coronation of the Irishman Aaron McKenna as world monarch of the International Boxing Federation in Dublin.
After winning the 160-pound belt, the Monaghan boxer raised the possibility of organizing a high-profile commercial confrontation against his compatriot Conor McGregor, opening the door to a crossover clash between the traditional circuit and mixed martial arts.
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The coronation of the fighter on European soil occurs in a context where the division presents multiple champions in the various sanctioning bodies. Given this panorama, the representation of the new owner evaluates alternatives that include unification fights against figures such as Carlos Adames, Erislandy Lara or Denzel Bentley, in addition to media challenges that attract the attention of the international market.
The panorama at 160 pounds and the unification options
Obtaining the IBF belt places the monarch in a negotiating position to define his next presentation before the conclusion of this cycle of competitions. Among the regulatory alternatives is the mandatory confrontation against the American Amari Jones, as well as possible crosses at super middleweight against rivals of greater tonnage.
However, the options of coordinating an impact evening in the United Kingdom or Ireland have led his team to analyze popular rivals.
In this context, the figure of Conor McGregor resurfaces due to the background shared by both athletes on digital platforms, where images from 2018 were rescued in which a young McKenna projected a clash between athletes of the same nationality.
Direct challenge and statements about combat
The viability of this commitment is based on the current industry trend to structure events between leaders from different combat disciplines. During an interview with The Ring magazine, the middleweight champion himself argued that the opportunity to compete for an official world boxing title could be attractive for the mixed martial arts fighter's career.
"You never know what fights can happen, like these crossover fights. These great dream matchups," declared the boxer when analyzing the recent history of the international market, also adding about his compatriot's position: "If Conor McGregor had the opportunity to fight for the world middleweight title, I don't see him rejecting it. It would be a very important fight for Ireland."
In the same dialogue with the aforementioned source, the fighter recalled that events organized by international promoters have demonstrated the competitiveness of these mixed formats. The perspective of the champion's corner maintains that the attraction of competing for a regulation belt in the middleweight division constitutes a solid argument to tempt the athlete's return to the ring.
The viability of a historic duel on Irish soil
Conor McGregor's history in paid boxing only records his 2017 confrontation against Floyd Mayweather Jr. However, the presence of an active world champion born in the Republic of Ireland opens a way to manage a massive function in Dublin stadiums.
The completion of the negotiations will depend on the contractual commitments of the fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship company and the regulatory deadlines dictated by the sanctioning entity for the mandatory defenses of the category. While the organization reviews the files of the official qualifiers, the proposal launched by McKenna's corner adds a high-profile alternative for the end-of-year sports calendar.
