An Irish boxer from the small village of Smithborough in County Monaghan has revealed that rap superstar Kendrick Lamar is always welcome to spar with him at his family's gym. Aaron McKenna struck up an unlikely friendship with the Pulitzer Prize-winning artist in 2018 when both were training at the same facility in Los Angeles, California.
At the time, McKenna was a teenager with only a handful of professional fights under his belt. Now, at 26, he is preparing for the biggest moment of his career: a world title fight against Italian Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight championship in Dublin this August. The journey from a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest music stars to a world title opportunity has been remarkable, and McKenna has not forgotten the support he received from Lamar along the way.
The story began when McKenna and his brother Stephen, also a professional boxer, were training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, a gym frequented by many celebrities. Kendrick Lamar, who was then in the midst of a highly successful tour and album cycle, had taken up boxing as a form of cross-training. One day, after Lamar finished his own session, the McKenna brothers stepped into the ring for an eight-round technical sparring session. Lamar decided to stay and watch.
&34;Me and Stephen looked at each other straight away,&34; McKenna recalled in an interview with BBC News NI. The brothers are notoriously competitive, and having the rap superstar observing only heightened their intensity. Lamar watched every single round, and after the sparring ended, he approached the brothers to chat. McKenna described Lamar as &34;real nice fellow, down to earth, no arrogance or nothing.&34;
From that day, the two began a genuine friendship. They would regularly cross paths at the gym, often exchanging words of encouragement. But the most memorable moment came when McKenna had a fight scheduled at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, more than four hours drive from Los Angeles. Despite the distance, Lamar decided he wanted to attend. Just before McKenna was about to make the long walk to the ring, the rapper appeared at his dressing room door to wish him luck. McKenna went on to score a spectacular second-round knockout, a victory he partially attributes to the unexpected morale boost.
Lamar's fame has only skyrocketed since those early days. In 2025, he won five Grammy Awards for his hit song &34;Not Like Us&34; and headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, cementing his status as one of the most influential figures in contemporary music. Yet, McKenna emphasizes that Lamar remains the same grounded person he met years ago. The pair kept in touch even after McKenna returned to Ireland with his family during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although their contact has diminished slightly due to busy schedules, McKenna says the bond remains strong.
Now based back at his family-run gym in Smithborough, McKenna is training intensively for the world title fight. He has brought in sparring partners from the UK and the United States to help him prepare for the challenge posed by Oliha. And he has issued a public invitation to Lamar: &34;He&39;s always welcome, with an open invitation anytime.&34; The thought of the rapper stepping into the ring in rural Monaghan is a source of amusement for the local community, but McKenna insists it could happen.
McKenna's career has progressed significantly since that 2018 encounter. After building a reputation as a hard-hitting middleweight, he has amassed a string of victories, including a notable win over former world champion Liam Smith in 2023. That victory elevated McKenna into the world title picture, and after months of negotiations, the fight against Oliha was confirmed. The bout will take place at the 3Arena in Dublin, one of Ireland's premier venues, and is expected to draw a large crowd of passionate Irish fight fans.
Reflecting on his journey, McKenna said: &34;I&39;m starting to come into my prime years. This is where my career has really taken off. My next fight is for the world title, so I&39;m hitting the big stage now.&34; He acknowledges that his path has been unconventional, but he believes the friendship with Lamar has helped his profile and given him confidence. &34;For someone of his magnitude to come in and wish me luck just shows how good of a person he is,&34; McKenna added.
The world of boxing has often intersected with entertainment, but few stories are as heartfelt as this one. From a small Irish village to the bright lights of Los Angeles, Aaron McKenna has not only chased his own dreams but has also earned the respect of one of the world's most celebrated artists. As he prepares for the biggest night of his life, the boxer from Monaghan knows that, whether from thousands of miles away or ringside in Dublin, Kendrick Lamar will be watching.
Source: Bbc News