Tyrone McKenna targeting world honours after war with Dylan Moran

Tyrone McKenna wants to pursue a world title after his incredible two-round war with Dylan Moran in Waterford. 

Their fight, broadcast on ProBox TV, was brilliant. Both met center ring and delivered one of the best two-round fights in recent memory. McKenna eventually came out on top, having absorbed heavy punishment from Moran before dropping him heavily at the end of the first round. An entertaining second followed with Moran again being dropped at the end of the second; this time their contest was waved off. 

“To be fair I thought he was going to move and box,” McKenna told BoxingScene. “For some reason he didn’t – all week he said he’s going to box, I was like, ‘What’s going on here?’ He was putting everything into the shots, I knew it was burning the nervous energy that he had. He was firing big shots, and I know that can take it out of you.  

“So, I just tucked up and moved – then I started putting pressure on in the last minute, then I caught him with a good shot in the last second. It could have been stopped after that. 

“I don’t think he had fully recovered, then he came out and I knew every shot was hurting him. Thank God I caught him in the last five seconds because doing another round like that – I don’t think I could have.” 

Moran walked to the ring in front of a roaring home crowd; the fans continued their support during the fight and created a fiery atmosphere.  

“Maybe [the crowd played against him],” McKenna said. “That’s sometimes my problem; I get too riled up. I think ultimately, they thought I was a lot weaker than I am.  They thought I couldn’t hit because I don’t have a big knockout ratio. I do hit, everyone says in sparring and on the pads. 

“I knew I could hurt him; I knew for a fact that I’d get a stoppage. I could get hit all day; I’ve got an unbelievable chin.” 

Before the contest, McKenna said that he had been reborn in a training camp in Germany, giving him confidence that he could finally lift a world championship. The performance against Moran has enhanced his conviction. 

“Everything gives me confidence,” said McKenna. “I took some big shots; he’s a big lad. He hit me flush a good few times with big hooks and I didn’t budge. I know I’m good enough to be world champion, with the right fights and the right opponent.” 

The welterweight division is seen as one of the weaker weigh5 classes in 2024. McKenna, however, is unfazed and is willing to step in with former sparring partner and the IBF 147lbs champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis. 

“I used to spar ‘Boots’ for about two years in his camp, he’s unbelievable, he was unbelievable back then at 17 years old, so maybe let’s swerve him,” he joked. “I’ll fight anyone, including ‘Boots’. I just want big fights, and I’ll have wars. I’m one of the hardest men for a reason and I’ll give anyone a tough night.”