Aaron McKenna sends warning to Liam Smith at final Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn press conference

Aaron McKenna has warned Liam Smith that he won't take a step back when the pair clash on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn card this Saturday.

The 25-year-old Monaghan middleweight faces former world champion Smith in the toughest test of his career to date at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and believes the 12-round contest could steal the show.

"I don't change anything for no one and this is the fight game. Saturday night it's going to be a war between me and Liam Smith. I think it's going to steal the show," said McKenna at Thursday's press conference at Spurs' stadium.

"You can have it in the phone booth. It's going to be that good."

He added: "I'm not going to be taking a step back. I believe I'm the stronger guy. After six rounds you're expecting me to get tired, but it's going to go the other way around."

'The Silencer' is 19-0 as a professional, with ten of his victories coming via knockout, and knows a victory on Saturday night will unlock massive opportunities for him, with the bout coming on the world's first Ring Magazine card.

Smith (33-4-1) has not been seen in the ring since he was stopped by Eubank Jr in the tenth round of their rematch in September 2023, eight months after the Liverpool native knocked him out in Manchester.

But 'Beefy', who has also fought the likes of Canelo Álvarez and Jaime Munguía, believes he will be too good for McKenna.

Smith, who is 11 years older than the Irishman, said: "I think I'm going to start very competitive, very early. But I'll break him down. I'm just too good for him."

McKenna hit back by saying: "I'm going to come out, meet him in the middle of the ring and push him back. Halfway through the fight I'm just going to really drive forward and take over."

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