‘When you’re king, everyone is going to be trying to take your crown’ – McKenna understands Davies and Benson taunts

They’ve called him the worst in the competition and the most boring of the eight Golden Contract contestants, but Tyrone McKenna welcomes the barbs sent his way.

Things have started to heat up as the light welterweight quarter final draws closer. The likes of Ohara Davies, Lewis Benson and McKenna have become more vocal, trying to gain a physiological edge ahead of the York Hall hosted Sky Sports broadcast fight night.

Davies, who had a physical altercation with McKenna during the quarterfinals for the featherweight version of the tournament, hasn’t been shy about criticizing the ‘Mighty Celt’ nor has Benson and Darren Surtees has even got in on the act.

The Belfast southpaw hasn’t taken offence to the barbs, rather he see’s them as complimentary.

The Danny Vaughan trained entertainer believes it’s proof he has done something right up to this point and suggests he is one of the names and talents in the tournament worth trying to scalp.

“When you’re king, everyone is going to be trying to take your crown and I’m WBC International champion – one of only two fighters in the competition with a belt,” McKenna said.

“It’s natural that my rivals are going to be wanting to take a swing at me. I don’t blame them.

“I’ll say one thing though; Lewis Benson should keep quiet about previous fights because he’s robbed his last two opponents and looked terrible! It’s been a year since I beat him and he’s still talking about the time I went to his backyard and won. I must live in his head rent-free…

“Lewis and anyone can feel free to pick me because I honestly believe I’m the best in this and I’m going to win the whole caboodle. If I can settle a few scores along the way, then brilliant.”

McKenna scored a points victory over Benson on an #MTKFightNight in Glasgow back in November 2018.

Alongside McKenna, Benson, Davies and Surtees in the race for the coveted major promotional deal are Zhankosh Turarov, Mohamed Mimoune, Anthony Yigit and Logan Yoon.

The draw takes place on November 19 with the quarter-final match-ups held at the iconic York Hall on November 22 – live on Sky Sports in the UK in association with Matchroom Boxing and on ESPN+ in the US in association with Top Rank.