THERE WON’T BE too many teenage boxing prospects who can count a 12-time Grammy winner among their chief supporters, but having met Monaghan’s Aaron McKenna in the gym last week, new ‘King of Hip Hop’ Kendrick Lamar was ringside to watch the 19-year-old in action as he pummeled heavy-handed Mexican Abel Reyes at Fantasy Springs Casino in California last night.
Lamar visited McKenna in his dressing room pre-fight, but the former eight-time Irish underage champion scarcely required the gee-up.
Reyes, 4-1 with four knockouts entering the contest, attempted to bring some heat early doors but was quickly grounded by a body shot in the opening verse of what was an explosive if utterly one-sided encounter.
He beat the count, but lasted less than a round more: showing what’s becoming trademark poise, ‘The Silencer’ from Smithborough went back to the body in the second and creased Reyes with a picture-perfect left hook to the ribs.
Reyes, down and conspicuously in agony, was rightly deemed unable to continue.
McKenna moved to 6-0 with what was his fourth stoppage victory.
The Golden Boy-promoted welterweight intends to pursue minor titles Stateside in 2019 before making a dent on the world stage a year later.
His elder brother, Stevie — a former Irish Senior Elite champion — has also turned professional on America’s west coast, and is expected to make his debut in the next couple of months.
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