“Beating Karen Chukhadzhian in Germany was probably the biggest win of my career. He’s the most avoided welterweight on the planet. To go there, do a hard 12 rounds, score two big knockdowns, and win the fight comfortably was great. It puts me in a great position to fight for a world title, but we have a pit stop, and the pit stop is Tyrone McKenna,” said McKenna to talkSPORT Ireland.
Calling Chukhadzhian “the most avoided welterweight on the planet” is laying it on thick. Ennis defeated him over 12 rounds in January 2023 and repeated the result by another wide decision in their November 2024 rematch.
Nor did Donovan win comfortably. He built his lead early, slowed badly down the stretch, and received a majority decision after Chukhadzhian swept the late rounds. One judge scored the fight even.
The second of his two credited knockdowns looked more like a push than a clean punch. Without that extra point in the eighth round, the official scores would have produced a majority draw. Those two calls gave Donovan’s performance a much healthier appearance than the full 12 rounds deserved.
McKenna brings a completely different style. Chukhadzhian gave Donovan room to operate, allowing the southpaw to counter and create clean punching angles. The Belfast fighter will lean on him, smother his work, wrestle inside, and attack the body while turning every round into a physical grind.
That approach places Donovan’s stamina under inspection. Chukhadzhian backed him toward the ropes once his legs began to fade. Working downstairs and forcing extended exchanges from the opening rounds may leave Donovan without the movement needed to control the second half.
The rough treatment will also test his discipline. His first fight with Lewis Crocker included point deductions for using his head and elbow before a punch after the bell led to his disqualification. McKenna will gladly provoke another emotional reaction.
Far more rests on Donovan at Croke Park. He is the IBF mandatory challenger, has a title fight with Paro waiting, and will perform before roughly 80,000 Irish fans. McKenna has little to lose at 36.
There is almost no professional reward for Donovan. Beating an aging McKenna proves what most people already believe. A cut, injury, disqualification, or defeat costs him his shot at Paro. Chasing a crowd-pleasing knockout and burning through his gas tank may turn this supposed “pit stop” into an entirely avoidable wreck.
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