Stephen McKenna (boxer)

Last updated

Stephen McKenna
Born (1997-02-15) 15 February 1997 (age 28)
Monaghan, Ireland
Other namesHitman
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record [1]
Total fights16
Wins15
Wins by KO14
Losses1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Haringey Box Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2014 LondonLight-flyweight
European Youth Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2015 KolobrzegLight-flyweight
Commonwealth Youth Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2015 Apia Light-flyweight
Irish National Championships


Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2015 Irish U-18s DublinLight-flyweight
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2015 Irish Elites DublinLight-flyweight
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2017 DublinBantamweight

Stephen McKenna (born 15 February 1997) is an Irish professional boxer. As an amateur he won a gold medal at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games and silver at the European Youth Championships in the same year.

Contents

Amateur career

As an amateur McKenna compiled a record of 155–24. [2] In 2015 he won gold medals at the Irish National Championships and Commonwealth Youth Games, and silver at the European Youth Championships, all in the light-flyweight division. [3] In 2017 he moved up to the bantamweight division, winning a silver medal at the Irish National Championships. [4]

Professional career

After signing a promotional contract with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, [2] Mckenna made his professional debut on 6 April 2019 against Trey Branch at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena in Pico Rivera, California. McKenna forced his opponent to the canvas with a barrage of punches in the first round. Branch made it to his feet before the referee's count of ten, only to be stunned by a left hand. McKenna followed up with a four punch combination, prompting the referee to call a halt to the contest to award McKenna a first-round knockout (KO) victory. [5]

He secured three more wins in 2019; first-round KOs against Keasen Freeman in June [6] and Keahola Helm in August; [7] and a second-round KO against Gonzalo Dallera in November. [8]

McKenna's first fight of 2020 was his first in Europe, scoring a first-round KO against Gary McGuire in September at the Production Park Studios in South Kirkby, England. [9]

He won the vacant WBC International Silver super-welterweight title with a third round stoppage win over Joe Lawes at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley, English, on 3 August 2024. [10]

McKenna lost the title and his unbeaten professional record to Lee Cutler at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool, England, on 14 December 2024. He lost the fight by majority decision with two of the ringside judges scoring the contest 96–92 and 95–93 respectively in favour of his opponent, while the third had it a 94–94 draw. [11] [12]

Personal life

His brother, Aaron, is also a professional boxer. [13]

Professional boxing record

16 fights15 wins1 loss
By knockout140
By decision11
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
16Loss15–1Lee CutlerMD1014 Dec 2024 Exhibition Centre, Liverpool, EnglandLost WBC International Silver super welterweight title
15Win15–0Joe LawsRTD3 (10), 3:003 Aug 2024 Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley, EnglandWon vacant WBC International Silver super welterweight title
14Win14–0 Darren Tetley RTD6 (8), 3:0030 Sep 2023 York Hall, London, England
13Win13–0Brendon DenesRTD4 (8), 3:0011 Feb 2023 Wembley Arena, Wembley, England
12Win12–0Facundo Alberto RojasTKO2 (8), 2:5930 Jul 2022 Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, England
11Win11–0Jack EwbankTKO1 (6), 1:0810 Dec 2021National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, England
10Win10–0Richmond DjarbengKO1 (8), 0:4213 Nov 2021Skydome, Coventry, England
9Win9–0Moussa GaryPTS610 Sep 2021Skydome, Coventry, England
8Win8–0Damian HausTKO1 (6), 2:5222 May 2021 Skydome, Coventry, England
7Win7–0Des NewtonTKO3 (6), 0:3618 Dec 2020Fly By Nite Rehearsal Studios, Redditch, England
6Win6–0MJ HallTKO5 (6), 1:5411 Dec 2020Fly By Nite Rehearsal Studios, Redditch, England
5Win5–0Gary McGuireKO1 (6), 1:135 Sep 2020Production Park Studios, South Kirkby, England
4Win4–0Gonzalo Carlos DalleraKO2 (6), 0:299 Nov 2019Gardens Casino, Hawaiian Gardens, California, U.S.
3Win3–0Kealoha HelmKO1 (4), 1:153 Aug 2019 Gardens Casino, Hawaiian Gardens, California, U.S.
2Win2–0Keasen FreemanKO1 (4), 1:3313 Jun 2019The Hangar, Costa Mesa, California, U.S.
1Win1–0Trey BranchKO1 (4), 2:546 Apr 2019 Pico Rivera Sports Arena, Pico Rivera, California, U.S.

References

  1. ↑ "Boxing record for Stephen McKenna". BoxRec .
  2. 1 2 Fischer, Doug (5 April 2019). "Irish amateur star Stephen McKenna follows brother Aaron into professional boxing". The Ring . Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Stephen McKenna To Make UK Debut on Dilmaghani-Ziani Card". BoxingScene.com. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  4. ↑ Loughran, Neil (6 November 2017). "McKenna brothers have Gold on their minds ahead of busy month". The Irish News. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  5. ↑ Salazar, Francisco (8 April 2019). "Stephen McKenna Arrives on Pro Scene With a Knockout". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  6. ↑ McGoldrick, Sean (14 June 2019). "WATCH: Ireland's Stevie McKenna makes it two from two in pro ranks with devastating first-round KO in California". Independent.ie. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "BoxRec: Stephen McKenna vs. Keahola Helm". BoxRec . Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Stapleton, Jonny (10 November 2019). "'Hitman' takes out another foe – McKenna continues knockout start". Irish Boxing. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  9. ↑ Lewis, Ron (5 September 2020). "Stevie McKenna Crushes McGuire in One, Michael Hennessy Suffers Defeat". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Stephen McKenna's third-round stoppage of Joe Lawes hailed as fight of year". RTE. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "Lee Cutler Overpowers Stephen Mckenna In A Fascinating Bout". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  12. ↑ "Poole's Lee Cutler on McKenna win and Bournemouth headline fight". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "Boxing brothers Aaron and Stevie McKenna extend unbeaten records". Irish Post. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
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