McKenna extends invitation to Lamar ahead of IBF title bout
Aaron McKenna recalls how Kendrick Lamar visited his dressing room in 2018, as the County Monaghan fighter readies for the vacant IBF middleweight belt against Etinosa Oliha.
Irish boxer Aaron McKenna has issued an open invitation to rapper Kendrick Lamar to attend his upcoming world title challenge, reflecting on a past friendship that began in the Los Angeles boxing scene. McKenna, who is preparing to face Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight world title in Dublin this August, described the hip-hop star as a supportive figure during his early professional years.
The connection between the Smithborough native and the music icon dates back to 2018, when McKenna and his brother Stephen were training at a gym in California. Lamar, who had finished his own training session, watched the brothers spar from ringside. McKenna noted that the presence of the superstar spurred the pair on during their competitive sessions, leading to regular interactions and a rapport built on mutual respect.
McKenna recalled Lamar as a "real nice fellow" who was "down to earth" and displayed "no arrogance." The friendship deepened when Lamar travelled more than four hours from Los Angeles to Fantasy Springs casino to visit McKenna’s dressing room before a bout. Lamar wished the boxer luck before he secured a second-round knockout victory, a gesture McKenna cited as evidence of the rapper's character despite his global magnitude.
The two lost touch when McKenna returned to Ireland with his family during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, Lamar’s cultural prominence has expanded significantly, including winning five Grammy Awards in 2025 for the track "Not Like Us" and headlining the Super Bowl halftime show. McKenna recently discussed these memories on the Sky Sports Toe2Toe podcast, highlighting the contrast between his teenage years in Los Angeles and his current status as a world title contender.
Now 26, McKenna is training at his family gym in Monaghan with sparring partners travelling from the UK and the US. He described the upcoming August bout in Dublin as the moment his career has "really taken off," noting that he is entering his prime years. While he acknowledged Lamar’s fame has grown, McKenna maintained that the rapper would be welcome at the event, speculating, "Maybe he'll come to the fight."
