Joe Ward and Stevie McKenna set to fight on Zuffa Boxing’s Dublin show

Joe Ward punches Frederic Julan during their light heavyweight bout at Madison Square Garden. Pic: Al Bello/Getty Images

Irish light heavyweight “Mighty” Joe Ward and middleweight Stevie McKenna will both fight on Zuffa Boxing’s 3Arena card on August 8.

Founded by UFC president Dana White and backed by Saudi Arabian funding, Zuffa Boxing will host a show in the capital, with Monaghan’s Aaron McKenna fighting Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF world middleweight title.

On the same card, 25-year-old Cork pro Callum Walsh (16-0, 11 KOs) will take on England’s Tyler Denny (21-4-3). It is the Cobh native’s second bout under the Zuffa banner and his second time fighting at the Dublin venue.

It has now been confirmed that one of Ireland’s greatest amateurs will fight on the card as he looks to ignite his professional career. Ward won three world championships, however several shows on which he was due to appear have fallen through in recent years.

The Westmeath man made his debut in the paid ranks back in 2019, but it ended in disaster at Madison Square Garden when he blew out his knee.

27-year-old Stevie McKenna, the older brother of Aaron, has recently called for an all-Irish stadium fight against Walsh. 

The 16-1 boxer secured a first-round stoppage of American opponent Casey James Streeter in Bournemouth earlier this month. That ended a 539-day absence from the ring.