There was was quite a cagey opening to the later main event as 35-year-old southpaw McKenna, holding considerable height and reach advantages, sought to box rather than brawl, with Eubank tasked with solving the puzzle.
The pace increased a little more in the third, with Eubank getting closer and wrestling the visitor to the floor twice – neither ruled knockdowns – but it indicated more of a willingness to get inside.
Speed was on Eubank’s side as he landed a flush right hand in the fourth and this gave him confidence to go back for more despite being tagged earlier in the round, as there was a sense he was now starting to solve the riddle.
Despite the Belfast man wearing a welt under his right eye entering the fifth, he remained composed but was made to pay late in the round as he mistimed an attack and Eubank was quick to punish with a chopping right dropping the visitor.
McKenna was up immediately but ate another right on the bell as he returned to his corner with a wry smile across his features.
Beyond the halfway point, Eubank was now into a flow and his advantage in terms of power was highlighted again as having taken a flush shot, returned one of his own that backed up McKenna and seconds later, another short right had the Belfast man on the floor.
However, McKenna’s durability has always been without question as he bounced back up.
Although McKenna was game, he seemed to have run out of ideas and while a low blow gave him a momentary reprieve in the 10th, there was no debating what followed as Eubank produced another knockdown, with the follow-up assault enough for referee Lyson to call a halt.
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