Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna Predictions: The last temptation of ‘Beefy’ Smith

Former world champion Liam Smith returns after a year and a half out of the ring against Aaron McKenna on Saturday, April 26. The fight takes place on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. DAZN PPV and Sky Sports Box Office will screen the fights live.

Here are my Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna predictions ahead of this middleweight scrap.

Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna Odds

Smith is priced up at 13/10 to win this fight, with McKenna available at 4/6. A draw is available at 16/1 while the fight is 1/2 to go the distance. Either fighter to win via split decision has been boosted to 6/1, while Betfred also have boosted several other prices, which you can find by clicking the link above. 

Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna Fight Preview

Smith might have prevented Saturday’s main event from happening if things had been different. The former WBO super welterweight king stopped Eubank in four chaotic rounds back in January 2023. The fight was talked about in the aftermath as a possible springboard for ‘Beefy’ to fight the likes of Kell Brook and Gennady Golovkin. Superfights beckoned.

Instead, boxing’s modern scourge struck. The rematch clause has kiboshed many a fighter’s momentum in recent times and it would do so again. Smith was forced back into the ring with Eubank. This time, ‘Next Gen’ was much-improved as he stopped Smith in 10 rounds.

Smith has not been seen in a prize ring since, with a proposed third fight with Eubank falling through due to injury. After a win that threatened to reignite a decorated career, ‘Beefy’ suffered a loss that was at risk of derailing him completely. But the 36-year-old returns for a gut check against McKenna. We are about to find out what the Scouser has left in the tank.

Ireland’s McKenna has plenty of promise. 19-0 with 10 knockouts, he had the world at his feet going into this one. The 25-year-old reportedly had a possible fight with IBF and WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly in the offing. But instead, McKenna has chosen Smith as the best fight for his career at this stage.

While some may scoff, that makes sense in my view. The Irishman has time on his side. He is yet to step through the ropes with a world level opponent. Making that jump against a destroyer like Alimkhanuly is not advisable. Much better to take on a fighter like Smith and test those waters.

That is not to say this will be easy for McKenna. Smith is battle-hardened, having fought the likes of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Jaime Munguia alongside spectacular wins over Liam Williams, Anthony Fowler, Jessie Vargas and Sam Eggington. The Liverpool lad scored a spectacular knockout over Apollo Thompson to win the WBO championship in front of a roaring Manchester crowd.

But that was a decade ago now. Smith has spent much of that time in hard fights. Injuries have kiboshed fights with Eubank and Josh Kelly. McKenna could be getting Smith at the right time. Equally, he could be squaring off with a man who has nothing to lose. The torch will not be passed willingly, let’s put it that way.

Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna Full Card

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn

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Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna

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Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna Predictions

This is going to be a close fight I feel. I believe it goes the distance and I reckon there will be very little to split them.

But I do lean towards McKenna putting on a breakout performance against a man who has given so much to British boxing. Smith will fight his heart out. He always does. But I just feel at 36, with a lifetime of wars behind him and coming off a huge lay-off, this will be one fight too many. 

My pick for this one is McKenna to take a hotly-contested decision at 4/6.

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