Experts have their say ahead of the Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha middleweight world championship clash and Callum Walsh’s crucial fight against Tyler Denny, live on Sky Sports from 7pm.

Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha

Chris Billam-Smith (former cruiserweight champion): McKenna’s got so much to his game I think. He’s shown he can box a bit but he’s got an intensity and a workrate. He punches hard enough to get people’s respect. We saw a lot from him in the Liam Smith fight, of what he can do. I will pick him to win, probably on points, but he could overwhelm him as well.

Johnny Nelson (former cruiserweight champion): Aaron McKenna gets an inside-the-distance stoppage win I think. His engine, his pace will be too much.

Oliha can’t afford to get hit too easily because McKenna won’t leave you alone. It’s a good fight, especially for McKenna boxing in Dublin for the first time in his professional career.

I think McKenna in the first half of the fight.

Johnny Fisher (heavyweight star): McKenna’s been based in America for a little while, this is now his homecoming fight. Tremendous amateur record, hopefully that pedigree comes through. I think this crowd will give him that extra lift. If he uses that crowd and doesn’t let it be detrimental to him, that’s what’s going to carry him over the line.

Callum Walsh (middleweight contender): I presume that Aaron will win. It’s a big night, a big opportunity for him to go out there and perform and to win the world title in Dublin. I think he will.

Connor Coyle (middleweight contender): I think McKenna will win, I think he’ll win on points. I know McKenna’s boxing, I’ve known him growing up through Irish boxing. That’s why I know he’s a good boxer.

I think he’ll become IBF world champion on Saturday night.

Sam Hickey (middleweight prospect): Oliha, he’s obviously a good level but I think Aaron McKenna will get the job done. Aaron’s a good fighter. He’s got pedigree.

It’s kind of a new breed of middleweight coming through.

Patrick O’Connor (cruiserweight prospect): I think Aaron McKenna will win by decision. From what I see, I think Aaron is going to beat him on points, maybe late stoppage. It’s going to be great for Irish boxing to have a world champion, it’s a big thing.

Owen O’Neill (middleweight fighter): McKenna on points. He’s a very technical boxer, he’s very smart and he’s very good. I’ve been in there with him [in sparring] and he’s tall, he’s got big arms and he punches hard too.

Callum Walsh vs Tyler Denny

Billam-Smith: The Callum Walsh fight is interesting. I know Tyler, I’ve watched him a lot over the years and he always brings it. And if you’re not on your game and you switch off and your head’s elsewhere, he’ll beat you.

He’s a good fighter. He’s shown it. His first breakout win was Brad Rea, a really good win at the time.

He’s not affected by his losses. He’s been beat, come back and won and he’s looked good doing so. So it’s a really interesting one. I can’t really pick a winner because I know how good Callum is but nothing would surprise me in that fight.

Nelson: On paper you’d lean towards Walsh because of where he’s at in his career, but then you look at what Tyler Denny’s done, the heads he’s snatched because they’ve looked through him, looked past him. This is going to be a test of Walsh’s heart, Walsh’s desire. Because Tyler Denny is not one of those guys that folds easily.

I’d lean towards Tyler, but on points.

Fisher: Denny can very quickly make a fight go on to his terms in a positive way for him. If he drags you into that sort of fight it’s going to be a hard night’s work.

If he establishes his jab, fights at range, it’s Walsh’s fight to win. I pick Walsh but I like Tyler Denny, I like his tenacity. He’s fought some of the top guys in the division. Although I pick Walsh I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes the other way.

Hickey: Tyler Denny’s a good fighter, he can make people look average. If you’re not on your best night he can make a mess of the fight. Look at his last fight with George Liddard, it was a close one.

That’s an interesting fight because Callum Walsh has obviously made his career over in America. You’ll really see the level that Walsh is at. It’s different because when you move up the levels, fighters can take the power. If Walsh is a serious puncher he can maybe get him out of there but he’s moving up the levels so he might end up having to go the rounds and we’ll see how good a fighter he is.

Coyle: I’ve watched both of them guys fight. I know Callum has power. Coming up from 154lb, I don’t know what his power’s like at middleweight so that’ll be an interesting fight. I can’t predict that one. But after I take care of business on Saturday I’ll be ready for whoever they want.

O’Connor: I see Callum Walsh winning that one too, by decision. I think he can go all the way.

I’ll start off with a big knockout [to open the show] and watch the rest of the fights.

O’Neill: Callum Walsh by knockout. I’ve watched Callum and I think he’ll knock him out. I just know how good Callum is. Denny is very experienced. I suppose this is Callum’s big test with someone who’s been in there and done it. I’m looking forward to it.

Watch Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha fight for the IBF world middleweight title in Dublin on Saturday, live on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream boxing with no contract.

Fourth round, 30 October 2012, Madejski Stadium

An incredible match, the joint-highest scoring EFL Cup tie in history, and it took extra-time to find a winner.

Still without a win in their return to the Premier League, Reading threw away any joy their fans were feeling as they led Arsenal 4-0 by capitulating to lose 7-5.

Arsenal found themselves four down after 35 minutes, but Theo Walcott’s goal before half‑time sparked a comeback that dragged the match into extra-time.

Marouane Chamakh put Arsenal in front for the first time on the night with a goal in the first period of extra-time, only for Reading striker Pavel Pogrebnyak to make it 5-5.

But Walcott restored Arsenal’s lead before Chamakh completed the scoring.

A remarkable night was further added to by the faintly ridiculous moment when Olivier Giroud and Francis Coquelin threw their shirts into the crowd, thinking the match was over, only to have to awkwardly ask for them back once they realised extra‑time was still to come.

Before ramping up to its regular season, the NFL takes a fond look back at its past. The new additions to the Pro Football Hall of Fame are commemorated this Saturday, with a quintet of era-defining players getting bronze busts and gold jackets.

The 2026 Hall of Fame class covers so much ground. It includes a heroic quarterback in Drew Brees, a graceful wideout in Larry Fitzgerald and a tough-as-nails linebacker in Luke Kuechly. Saturday also gives long-overdue flowers to innovative running back Roger Craig, and coronates Adam Vinatieri as the most clutch kicker in NFL history.

As is tradition, this year’s Hall of Fame members will deliver speeches and relive career highlights. It’s a must-see event for ardent fans of the sport. Here’s what to know before tuning in.

How to watch the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony

• Venue: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium — Canton, Ohio
• Date: Saturday, Aug. 8
• Time: Noon ET
• TV: ESPN, NFL Network
• Streaming: Fubo (Stream Free Now)

ESPN also streams with an ESPN Unlimited subscription. NFL Network also streams with an NFL+ subscription. 

Hall of Fame induction ceremony coverage

The broadcast on both ESPN and NFL Network is hosted by Rich Eisen, the inveterate football anchor. He’s joined by analysts Louis Riddick and Kurt Warner. Warner has a gold jacket of his own — the two-time MVP quarterback was part of the 2017 class.

As of July 30, NFL Network has been added to the ESPN Unlimited app. It’s part of the billion-dollar partnership that was announced last August.

This is ESPN’s 31st consecutive year, and NFL Network’s 23rd, covering the Canton celebration.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees

Brees was the first pick of the second round in the 2001 draft. He went 30-28 under center for the then-San Diego Chargers, but suffered a brutal injury to his throwing shoulder during the final week of the 2005 season. The New Orleans Saints took a chance on his recovery, and it proved to be a fruitful decision. Brees arrived in New Orleans as the Saints returned to the Superdome, one year after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Across the next decade and a half, the pinpoint passer won two Offensive Player of the Year awards, led the league in passing seven times and set a single-season record in 2011 with 5,476 yards through the air. Most significantly, he was MVP of Super Bowl XLIV, the Saints’ emotional championship and first in franchise history.

Brees takes the stage ranking No. 2 in the NFL record books in career passing yards and touchdowns. He’ll be presented by his former coach Sean Payton.

Craig was a second-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1983. He turned into a fixture of the Niners’ dynasty and earned championship rings during the 1984, 1988 and 1989 seasons. He became the first player to record three touchdowns in a Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XIX, he rushed for one score and caught two others.

Craig’s 1985 campaign broke unprecedented ground when he totaled more than 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards. He also won Offensive Player of the Year in 1988 with a league-leading 2,036 scrimmage yards.

The versatile running back retired after stints with the then-Los Angeles Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings. He’s the lone 2026 inductee selected by the senior committee, which considers candidates from earlier seasons up to 2000. Craig’s presenter is Jamie Williams, his childhood friend and teammate in the NFL (49ers), college (Nebraska Cornhuskers) and high school (Davenport Central High in Iowa).

Fitzgerald went third overall in the 2004 draft. He quickly emerged as a playmaker for his Arizona Cardinals, with 1,409 receiving yards and an NFL-best 103 catches in 2005. Fitzgerald was a model of consistency through 17 seasons and played his entire pro career in Cardinal red.

His playoff run during the 2008 season was one for the ages: 546 yards and seven TDs across four games, capped by his inspired performance in a tough Super Bowl XLIII loss.

The generational WR1 ranks second all-time in receptions and receiving yards. His father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., was a longtime sports reporter who covered Minnesota teams. Fitzgerald told The Athletic that he wanted his dad to be his presenter at the enshrinement. His son, Devin, will now do the honors following Larry Sr.’s passing.

Kuechly joined the Carolina Panthers as a 2012 first-rounder. His tenure was relatively short but absolutely spectacular — Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and five first-team All-Pro bids in eight seasons. In 2015, Kuechly captained Carolina through its 15-1 regular season. He opened that postseason with pick-sixes in back-to-back games as the Panthers made it to the Super Bowl.

After the 2019 season, the archetypal middle linebacker retired at age 28. Now 35, he becomes one of the youngest Hall of Famers in NFL history, second only to Gale Sayers. Kuechly will be introduced by his father, Tom.

Vinatieri rose from an undrafted free agent to the NFL’s all-time scoring leader. He kicked for the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts during his 24-year career, with three first-team All-Pro nods and four Super Bowl victories.

Vinatieri’s crowning moments were part of New England’s dynastic ascent — two clutch field goals through a blizzard in the famous Tuck Rule Game, then decisive makes at the end of Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII.

He is the third full-time placekicker to reach the Hall of Fame, alongside Morten Andersen and Jan Stenerud. He’ll be honored by Carlie Irsay-Gordon, the Colts’ current co-owner and CEO.

New Hall of Famers in the NYT archives

Drew Brees

This was the moment Drew Brees had longed for, the reason he came back from a shoulder injury so severe that doctors initially said it could not be repaired. This was for all the critics who said he was too short, for all the teams that passed on him as a free agent.

Mostly, this was for New Orleans, the city that adopted Brees, the place where he helped form a perfect union. Brees was the quarterback who desperately wanted to feel needed. New Orleans was the city destroyed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the city that desperately needed help. — Greg Bishop, 2010

Roger Craig

It was a typical Roger Craig moment. Late in the third quarter of last Sunday’s game against Dallas, Craig took a short pass from Joe Montana at the left sideline, turned upfield, gained 15 yards, tossed the ball aside and jogged back to the 49ers’ huddle without the slightest show of emotion.

With that play, Craig became the first player in National Football League history to surpass 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving in the same season. For almost anybody else, it would have called for a celebration. But for Craig, it was all in a day’s work. — Ira Miller, 1985

Larry Fitzgerald

Everything about Larry Fitzgerald seems elongated lately. It is in the way he leaps above and between defensive backs to catch passes, and how his braided hair flows from his white Cardinals helmet and falls on his shoulders.

Even the number on Fitzgerald’s back, 11, stands tall. His coach, Ken Whisenhunt, and his quarterback, Kurt Warner, said Fitzgerald might still rise to greater heights.

“When you see a dynamic player like that who wants to be great, the sky’s the limit,” Whisenhunt said. — Joe Lapointe, 2009

Luke Kuechly

But tucked away in the farthest corner of the same cavernous room, far from his brash and bold teammates, is where linebacker Luke Kuechly quietly hangs his jersey.

Kuechly, the defense’s 24-year-old leader, doesn’t seek the spotlight. He is “laid-back,” as his fellow linebacker Shaq Thompson described. He rarely says anything that isn’t expected, and he doesn’t have anything hanging above his locker aside from his nameplate. When prodded by a reporter to give himself a nickname, he said, simply, “How about ‘Luke?’” — Jodie Valade, 2016

Adam Vinatieri

The ball was snapped cleanly and went dead center through the uprights, a 48-yard field goal that beat the Rams, 20-17, as time expired.

That was not snow swirling in Vinatieri’s face, as it had two weeks ago, when the kicker sent the Patriots into overtime with the Raiders with a 45-yard field goal to tie the game, then kicked a 23-yarder to beat the Raiders. Tonight it was victory confetti. — Judy Battista, 2002

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