Continuing its acquisition of Irish talent, Las Vegas-based Zuffa Boxing has signed amateur featherweight standout Dylan Eagleson to a long-term promotional agreement.
The southpaw out of Bangor, Northern Ireland, is scheduled to make his professional debut in a six-round bout on August 8 at Dublin’s 3Arena, against an opponent to be named.
Headlining the card, in separate co-main events, will be Zuffa Boxing’s two world-ranked undefeated Irish middleweights, Aaron McKenna and “King” Callum Walsh, who are both based in Los Angeles.
McKenna [20-0, 10 KOs] challenges Italy’s Etinosa Oliha [22-0, 10Ks] for the vacant International Boxing Federation [IBF] world middleweight title over 12 rounds, while Walsh [16-0, 11 KOs] meets Briton Tyler Denny [21-4, 1 KO] in a 10-rounder.
Eagleson, 23, has been one of the top Irish amateurs for more than a decade. He captured gold at the 2018 and 2019 Irish Senior Cadet Championships, the 2020 Irish U18 Championships, the 2022 Irish U22 Championships, the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and at the 2023 Irish National Championships.
In his first-ever senior competition, he earned a silver medal at the 2022 European Championships. He will be guided by his longtime trainer, Bogdan Tudoran, at North Down Boxing Club in Bangor.
Eagleson’s Zuffa Boxing bouts will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.
“I'm buzzing to have signed with Zuffa, the biggest promotion in the game,” Eagleson said. “I accomplished a lot as an amateur, and I believe Zuffa will give me the tools necessary to become a champion. It means a lot to have the backing of Dana White and Sky Sports as I begin this journey.”
McKenna’s IBF championship clash with Oliha will be the first middleweight world title fight on Irish soil in more than three decades. It will also mark the first fight for McKenna in his homeland, where he was a stellar amateur with more than 150 wins and eight national championships.
The Monaghan native, who’s 26 and ranked #2 by the IBF, returns to the ring following a dominating decision victory over former world champion Liam Smith in London, England in April 2025. McKenna is also ranked #10 by the World Boxing Council [WBC].
Ranked #2 by the IBF, Oliha is a year older and will be hoping to spoil McKenna's homecoming. He’s beaten the four previous undefeated fighters that he’s faced as a professional career.
Walsh, meanwhile, returns to the 3Arena for the first time since a memorable second-round knockout victory over Przemyslaw Runowski in 2024. A southpaw, the 25-year-old Walsh is ranked #6 by the IBF and #12 by the WBC.
Zuffa Boxing was founded by Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority.
