Unbeaten Monaghan boxer Aaron McKenna will compete in a middleweight tournament in Japan with a top prize of over €900,000 available in a major step in his career.
Eight fighters will compete in the tournament which was formally announced in Nagoya today.
McKenna has been handed a difficult draw against American-Puerto Rican Jeovanny Estela, who has 14 wins in as many fights.
The action begins on 31 March, the first of three separate fight nights to determine an overall winner to take the prize.
The opening night will see four bouts take place over 10 rounds – with a bumper €90,000 knockout bonus on offer, split between the fighters who successfully stop their opponent.
As the tournament progresses, the latter bouts will be staged over 12 rounds.
One quarter-final was already determined as Japan's number-one ranked middleweight Riku Kunimoto (10-1, 4 KOs) defends his Japanese title against mandatory challenger Eiki Kani (8-3-3, 4 KOs) in the first quarter-final.
Wildcard British entry Mark Dickinson (6-0, 2 KOs) could await the winner in the last four, if he can stun France’s undefeated 2016 Olympian Anauel Ngamissengue (13-0, 8 KOs).
McKenna (18-0, 9 KOs) will be out to establish his future world title challenger credentials against Estela.
The Monaghan man earned a sixth-round stoppage victory against Mickey Ellison in the first defence of his WBC International Middleweight title earlier this month.
Kieron Conway (20-3-1, 5 KOs) holds the WBA version of that belt and will face a tough opponent in China’s Ainiwaer Yilixiati (19-1, 14 KOs) who completes a stellar line-up.
Matchroom Boxing is hosting the event in conjunction with two Japanese companies.
CEO Frank Smith believes the tournament will ignite the division and could lead to a future world champion.
He said: "Prizefighter was immensely popular with boxing fans in years gone by – and they will love this new inception of the $1million series.
"With a $100,000 knockout prize pot per event, the fighters will be going all out. It promises to be a thrilling spectacle, filled with tough 50-50 fights, that will capture attention around the world."
