Aaron McKenna moved two wins away from a million dollar payday with a late 10th round stoppage of American middleweight Jeovanny Estela in the quarterfinals of the Prizefighter tournament in Osaka, Japan, on Monday.
The Los Angeles-based Monaghan transplant now meets Britain’s reigning WBA Inter-Continental 160-pound titlist Kieron Conway in the semi-finals at a date to be announced. Out of Northampton, Conway was an impressive seventh round TKO winner over China’s Ainiwaer Yilixiati [19-2-0, 14 KOs] to improve to 21-3-1 [6 KOs].
He holds wins over Dubliner Craig O’Brien and Belfastman Casey Bliar, but in McKenna the 28-year-old Conway will face one of the middleweight division’s best young prospects.
UNDEFEATED
Nicknamed “The Silencer,” McKenna squared off with the Orlando, Florida-based Estela in a battle of undefeated pugilists. Both men came to fight, with McKenna targeting the body early and Estela landing the most notable punch of the opening stanza, a right hand to the head that caught McKenna’s attention.
The young Irishman, who’s 24, stepped it up after that, methodically attacking both the body and head while Estela fought back in spurts.
McKenna continued to outwork his man through the rounds and by the ninth heat had substantially wore Estela down. The end came in the final stanza when McKenna opened up with a barrage of shots forcing the referee to rescue the American 58 seconds before the bell.
McKenna upped his record to 19-0 [10 KOs] and claimed a share of the $100,000 knockout bonus spoils. Estela saw his record drop to 14-1 [5 KOs] after his first defeat.
The McKenna-Conway semi-final winner will meet the victor of the all-Japanese clash between Kazuto Takesako and Riku Kunimoto for the $1 million check.
Takesako [17-2-1, 15 KOs] outpointed Britain’s Mark Dickinson [6-1, 2 KOs] in a thrilling 10-rounder to reach the last four. The judges scored it 96-94, 97-93 and 98-92 in his favor.
Kunimoto, meanwhile, knocked out archrival Eiki Kani in the fifth round, with the Japanese middleweight title also on the line. Kunimoto is now 12-1 [6 KOs]. Kani is 8-5-3 [4 KOs].
Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith saluted the winning fighters as he hailed the return of the popular series.
“It has been a special week here in Japan and tonight showed us why we’re in for a tremendous tournament,” said Smith.
“With three stoppages, the fighters are already reaping the Prizefighter rewards with a share of the knockout bonus and four of them are now another step closer to taking home the $1m winners’ check.
“Young Mark Dickinson rolled the dice and he’ll no doubt come again after his defeat. But for the likes of Kieron Conway, Aaron McKenna, Kazuto Takesako and Riku Kunimoto everything is up for grabs.
“We are incredibly grateful to our partners Rakuten Ticket Inc., and NSN (Never Say Never) as we now look ahead to the semi-finals.”
