Stephen McKenna vs Joe Laws Preview
Ireland’s rising prospect, Stephen McKenna, will fight Joe Laws in Barnsley on August 3rd. The Monaghan native is riding a 14-fight win streak and hopes to extend this against his British foe. Laws is a tough and gritty opponent who plans an upset.
McKenna has an astonishing KO/TKO record across his career. Our online bookmaker fancies him to add Laws to his list of scalps. However, the ‘Benwell Bomber’ has other ideas and believes he can finish the Irishman.
This will be a fascinating clash that shows us McKenna’s current level. The WBC International Silver Super-Welterweight title is also on the line in this match. Both men would love to bring home the strap and there’s no love lost between them.
Stephen McKenna vs Joe Laws Key Stats and Head-to-Head
McKenna is one of Ireland’s top young fighters. A Commonwealth Games champion at youth level, he turned professional in 2018. McKenna’s first four pro fights were in the U.S. but all of his matches since then were in England. Currently, he fights out of Buddy McGirt’s gym in Northridge, California under trainer Courage Tshabalala.
‘Hitman’ hasn’t fought in Ireland since he became a professional. But the nation is crying out for a male boxing champion. So far, he has done everything right and has dedicated his entire life to training. Living in the U.S. is a major advantage because he has outstanding training partners.
McKenna is one of the rare few to spar with Vasily Lomachenko and Terence Crawford. Meanwhile, the Sheer Sports Management Team represents the young fighter who still isn’t in his prime. The 26-year-old has outstanding star potential. He reportedly went four rounds with Ryan Garcia in sparring before the American withdrew. They originally planned to box six rounds.
McKenna is one inch taller than Laws and has a significant eight-inch reach advantage. It’s going to be crucial for Laws to get inside and try to work McKenna’s body. He must make this fight as ugly as possible if he hopes to win. Both men fight out of an orthodox stance, but McKenna is more technical.
🙌 High praise from the P4P great, as @terencecrawford invited @stevie_mckenna and @Aaronmckenna99 back for more sparring
🥊 On the same night Bud fights in LA, Stevie himself is in action in the UK.
📽️: @fighthype@boxxer | @SkySportsBoxing | 03.08.24 | Oakwell Stadium |… pic.twitter.com/LMgDjWg8PY
— Hennessy Sports (@HennessySports) July 23, 2024
His last victory was an impressive win over former Lonsdale contender Darren Tetley. McKenna defeated the Englishman in London in a dominant six-round performance. He outclassed Tetley, easily landing damaging shots. Ultimately, Tetley’s corner pulled him out of the fight between rounds.
This was the second time in succession that one of McKenna’s opponents threw in the towel. Brendon Denes quit after three rounds at Wembley in February 2023. McKenna has an unbelievable 92.86 finishing percentage. Moussa Gary is the only boxer who has taken him to a decision in 14 fights.
Some analysts think that he’ll enjoy another walkover against Laws. ‘The Benwell Bomber’ is massively popular in his native Newcastle. His fans include former Premier League star Alan Shearer. Laws did not have the same glamorous professional upbringing as McKenna, but dreams of fighting in Las Vegas.
Irish trainer Jonathan O’Brien is the key man in Laws’ corner. The pair often work together in Lanzarote and O’Brien believes that Laws can be a superstar. He guided his student to an impressive decision victory over Michael Hennessy Jr. last year. This was Laws’ second successive victory since a tough defeat to Alexey Tukhtarov.
Laws has the potential to be a brilliant boxer but at times he is his worst enemy. He admits he loves to party, which isn’t conducive to a great boxing career. McKenna lives like a monk with his fellow boxer and brother Aaron. They dedicate their entire lives to the sport.
McKenna’s first serious trainer was his father Fergal, who still maintains a powerful influence over his career. A former Karate world champion, Fergal recognised his sons’ potential in boxing and brought them to events around the planet. He instilled a sense of focus and self-discipline into his sons, and that’s paying dividends.
On paper, McKenna is less experienced than Laws. The former has two fewer fights on his record than his British opponent. Meanwhile, he also has 33 fewer pro rounds, but that’s because of his outstanding finishing record. Nobody can live with him.
Stephen McKenna vs Joe Laws Predictions
Our boxing prediction is for McKenna to dominate and win this fight. He’s from a superior boxing stable with some of the best coaching in the world. The Monaghan man has also faced world-class sparring partners.
There’s a strong chance that McKenna will add another knockout to his impressive record. It’s worth remembering Laws suffered three knockdowns against Rylan Charlton in his first defeat. Laws also has a 35.71% finishing rate with five KO wins. McKenna is more than capable of finding the Newcastle man’s chin.
Laws’ shock decision loss against Tuktharov also concerns. McKenna is an up-and-coming fighter with elite potential. He can overwhelm Laws and find openings to land his shots.
You can't beat a Joe Laws ringwalk 🔥#LawalChamberlain pic.twitter.com/93GulHZObi
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 21, 2023
If Laws is going to cause an upset, he needs to make this a nasty fight for McKenna. He must disrupt the Irishman’s game and stop him from getting into his rhythm. This may mean taking a few shots to get inside and turn this into an ugly affair. Nobody doubts Laws’ heart, but the question is his ability and focus.
His knockout record suggests that a decision is his most likely course of victory. But it’s difficult to imagine him enjoying that much success in this fight. If Laws has a bright start, check out the in-play betting odds because a wager on McKenna may make more sense.
Stephen McKenna vs Joe Laws Betting Tips
It’s no surprise that McKenna is a massive betting favourite ahead of this fight. The Monaghan boxer is currently 1/25 to defeat Laws. There’s no point betting on him to win outright because it’s not profitable enough.
Luckily there are several markets available at Novibet. Check over-under betting for the number of rounds in this match. Laws is extremely tough and has an incredible heart, so we don’t see him retiring in his corner. But there’s a chance that McKenna finishes him after round five. You can make even more money from picking the individual round.
The method of victory is also a decent option. Most analysts think that this will be an early night for Laws. Betting on Stephen McKenna is worthwhile as they believe the Irishman will knock him out because he’s operating on another level. However, there’s a chance that Laws will shock the world.
It’s 10/1 for the Englishman to win this fight, with €10 potentially making €100. This is a good chance to use the welcome bonus. It takes away the risk because you lose nothing if the result doesn’t come through.
Anything can happen when betting on boxing events. Laws doesn’t have an impressive KO record, but every pro has a perfect shot in their locker. Maybe he’ll land a Hail Mary and defeat his highly-rated opponent.
There’s plenty of boxing action this weekend for fans who want to create a parlay. You can bet on Andy Ruiz Jr as he faces Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller in a heavyweight clash with massive implications. Meanwhile, McKenna’s former sparring partner, Terence Crawford, is hoping to make history against Israil Madrimov. Why not bet on all the favourites?
You can also bet on Olympic Boxing action this weekend. Ireland has sent a record 10 boxers to Paris in pursuit of glory. Team Ireland wanted McKenna after his Commonwealth success, but he turned pro at an early age. Instead, you can check our Jack Marley vs Davlat Boltaev predictions and add that to your bet slip.
Stephen McKenna vs Joe Laws Outcome
A win would be massive for both men. McKenna is the more ambitious fighter at this point in his career. He wants to move onto the next level and already called out Josh Taylor. He’d likely fight an internationally recognised opponent as he looks to climb the rankings into title contention.
It would be a massive shock if Laws wins this match. However, the Newcastle native believes in himself and has an experienced campaigner in his corner in O’Brien. If he wins, he could find himself on a major card later this year. He would love a rematch against Rylan Charlton, who has a 3-4 record since their last clash.
McKenna has also been open about wanting to fight Conor Benn. He may not have the name recognition to attract the controversial two-division champion. However, it would be a lucrative fight for the Irishman and would add a star name to his resume. Another dream would be to fight his fellow Irishman, Callum Walsh, in Dublin.
