Monaghan welterweight Aaron McKenna claimed a unanimous points decision victory over Rolando Mendivil in Hollywood’s Avalon Theater.
McKenna was the first fight on the Jesus Rojas versus Jojo Diaz card, an event which was streamed live on Facebook in conjunction with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.
The 19-year-old is being groomed for big things by Golden Boy and made a major statement against Mendivil, claiming a 40-36, 40-36, 40-36 victory.
The Irish boxer was on the offensive from the first bell, catching Mendivil with a couple of early left hooks, switching from the body to the head with ease and keeping his opponent on the back foot.
Mendivil showed more in the second round, going toe-to-toe with McKenna as he was happy to fight off the ropes but again the Irishman controlled the pace and tempo of the fight, and used the right cross and left hook combination to great effect.
The Mexican fighter went after McKenna in the third round, seeking his opponent's chin with some stiff uppercuts and one of those punches caught the Monaghan man, knocking his mouthpiece loose.
With the referee not realising McKenna's mouthpiece was absent, the two fighters continue to slug it out with McKenna forcing his opponent back onto the ropes with a mean three-punch combination, finishing with a booming overhand right, before he was sent to the corner for a replacement mouthpiece.
McKenna finished the round the stronger, again doing enough to take it.
Mendivil was aware he needed a knockout in the final round, but left gaps in his defence, which McKenna exploited with aplomb.
Despite his corner's instructions to go for the body, McKenna was happy to keep working upstairs and tagged his opponent with some strong shots, although the Mexican weathered them well.
There was little surprise when the decision went in McKenna's favour, taking his record to 5-0.
"I was trying for the knockout and I was landing some great solid shots on him, some solid right hands and he took them well," the Monaghan fighter explained afterwards.
"It was a great fight for me, I went four rounds so it was a good four rounds to have under my belt. It was great experience.
"I think if it had have been a six rounder, I probably would have got the knockout.
"I'll be fighting soon enough and I'll be back in the gym next week just getting ready for my next fight."
