Ireland’s Aaron McKenna defeated Etinosa Oliha to become a middleweight world champion.

For McKenna this fight in Dublin was a dream homecoming. The Irish middleweight had pursued his career across America, sparring in some of the world’s best gyms and amassing an undefeated pro record.

This contest, for the vacant IBF middleweight title, was his first world title fight and his first professional contest in Ireland.

With brother Stevie taking a spectacular knockout earlier, McKenna made a memorable entrance, wildly cheered into the ring by the 3Arena crowd, so loudly that the floor was almost rumbling.

But he didn’t let emotions carry him away at the start of the fight. He edged forward onto the front foot, feinting. He timed a left hook as Oliha, unbeaten himself coming in, stepped to him.

McKenna let his jab flicker out. His hands were quick, his right streaked in and McKenna used his left hook to let a cross blast through.

But the Italian wrested the second round his way, thumping through right hooks, punches McKenna felt, to show that he too could launch meaningful attacks.

McKenna ground forward, stifling his own long-range work but bodily forcing Oliha back.

When he did strike his opponent with a reaching right, the crowd roared and as the fight progressed into its second half McKenna did move more on his toes, darting back to scrape his left hook into the side of Oliha’s head.

The Italian looked to rip hooks into him but McKenna marshalled him to the ropes and slugged Oliha with a left hook.

McKenna imposed himself again in the ninth round but Oliha, a solid operator, showed little sign of wilting.

In the 10th round McKenna circled out and reeled off double jabs. As they grappled in a clinch though, Oliha unleashed a flurry that caught the Irishman.

McKenna briefly put space between them with a cross to the chin. He scored to the body with thudding right hooks too.

Oliha charged from his corner with a long one-two to start the 11th round. With flashier work, McKenna landed a left uppercut off his jab. Oliha though hacked back at him with a right hook up close.

McKenna continued to punch in greater volume. A clash saw him cut on the forehead just before the end of the 11th. He trusted in a hefty right hook as a response.

He didn’t want or need to take risks in the last round. He moved sharply, striking an increasingly desperate Oliha with jabs and the crowd all around him stood up cheering, clapping and chanting his name.

McKenna worked an uppercut, Oliha drove in a right but even when McKenna took shots he didn’t let them shake him as he closed out a unanimous decision.

When that final bell chimed, McKenna rushed to the corner post and jumped up onto the ropes to celebrate.

As soon as the words “from Monaghan” were declared by the ring announcer, confirming McKenna a 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 victor, the arena burst into deafening cheers once again.

“A new world champion. I’ve been saying it for years. A big thank you to Zuffa Boxing for giving me this platform and bringing a fight back to Ireland for me,” McKenna beamed afterwards.

“I’ve been a professional for nine years and never got the chance to fight in Ireland. Why? Just look at these beautiful fans.

“I never lost discipline in training. There were times when I wondered whether I’d ever get the chance.

“My dad [their trainer] sacrificed his whole life for me and my brother, dedicating everything to helping us chase our dreams.

“Finally, I’ve got my hands on this.”

TORONTO — Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 on the WTA Tour, was eliminated Saturday at the Canadian Open, in the biggest upset of the tournament. She exited in three sets 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 to Ekaterina Alexandrova, the world No. 19, in 2 hours and 29 minutes. It was a frustrating performance for Sabalenka, defined by uncharacteristic unforced errors and underwhelming serving.

The match started on track for Sabalenka. She broke Alexandrova’s serve and consolidated to go up 2-0. But Alexandrova won four straight games to go up 4-2. The cracks in Sabalenka’s game were appearing, and when she made mistakes, she became visibly frustrated. She served at a disappointing 46.2 percent in the first set and recorded five double faults. Sabalenka won just nine points on her second serve, succumbing to the power of Alexandrova’s return. Even in the tiebreak, where Sabalenka is often reliable, her lack of precision allowed Alexandrova to take advantage and win the opening set.

The shot that arguably exemplified Sabalenka’s match occurred in the second set. At 1-1,0-15, Sabalenka looked to break serve. Alexandrova gave Sabalenka a high ball, pulled off the court, presenting the opportunity for an overhead smash winner. Only Sabalenka dumped the shot in the net. The crowd gasped and Sabalenka looked dazed. Alexandrova would eventually hold serve, a missed chance for Sabalenka to seize back control of the match.

An opening came at the end of the second set. After saving three break points, Sabalenka broke Alexandrova’s serve once. The one break was the difference as Sabalenka captured the second set, the crowd cheering her on.

Any hopes for a Sabalenka comeback ran out in the third set. She continued to commit errors, and her frustration remained evident. Alexandrova broke her serve three more times for a total of seven breaks in the match, including the final game. Sabalenka double-faulted on match point, also her seventh of the day, putting an exclamation point on an irritating evening for the top seed.

Alexandrova will face the winner of Saturday night’s match between Elina Svitolina and Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals. Sabalenka remains at three singles titles in 2026 as she prepares to defend her 2025 U.S. Open championship.

This story will be updated.