AARON McKENNA will forego fast cars and fancy watches – by investing his Prizefighter pay packet in himself.
The Silencer vowed to stop Jeovanny Estela in yesterday’s quarter-final in Osaka, Japan, and did just that.
Monaghan middleweight McKenna dominated the ten rounds of action and the ref stepped in during one of his tenacious attacks in the tenth and final round.
It meant he shared a KO bonus with two others quarter-finalists who enjoyed inside-the-distance wins – setting up a semi-final showdown with England’s Kieron Conway.
McKenna banked €168,000 for the victory and can trouser another €230k if he beats Conway, with even more coming his way if he finishes him early.
And with the tournament winner then getting €550k, again with a potential bonus, favourite McKenna could be quids-in.
READ MORE ON BOXING
But the boxing-mad 25-year-old is planning to make every penny count on the way to his ultimate dream of becoming a world champion.
McKenna said: “I feel unreal.
“I feel very happy now, especially to get the knockout with the bonus.
“I knew every round he was slowly slowly gassing.
Most read in Sport
“Come the tenth round I knew it was end game and got it.
“Every fight I want the knockout bonus, this is the first one of three. I’m very happy to get it.
“You can see it makes the fights very exciting.
“I’ll use the bonus to prepare for my next camp, investing in myself, to get world-class sparring.”
McKenna has sparred top fighters the world over, most recently travelling to the US for rounds with pound-for-pound welterweight king Terence Crawford.
He added: “I’ll go wherever the sparring is.
“I’m very happy to fight in Japan in front of all the Japanese fans and thanks to all the Irish at home for supporting me and getting up early to watch me. I appreciate it.”
The win moved McKenna’s record to 19-0 – with ten knockouts.
Japanese pair Kazuto Takesako and Riku Kunimoto will square off on the other side of the draw after victories over Mark Dickinson and Eiki Kani respectively.
The dates for the semis are yet to be confirmed.
Brother Stevie (14-0) will be in action at Barnsley’s Oakwell Stadium on August 3.
The unbeaten welterweight, 27, who has 13 stoppage wins to his name, will take on English rival Joe Laws (14-2).