'He's always welcome': How a young Irish boxer befriended Kendrick Lamar

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. 'He's always welcome': How a young Irish boxer befriended Kendrick LamarImage source, Team McKennaImage caption, Aaron McKenna said Kendrick Lamar is always welcome to come spar at his family's gym in MonaghanByAuryn CoxBBC News NIPublished25 June 2026An Irish boxer has said Kendrick Lamar is welcome to spar with him anytime at his home gym. Aaron McKenna struck up an unlikely friendship with the famous US rapper in 2018 while the boxer spent time training in Los Angeles. At the time McKenna was a teenager who had only a handful of professional fights under his belt.

Now, he is back at his hometown of Smithborough in County Monaghan, training at the family gym for his upcoming world title fight in Dublin in August. McKenna said sparring partners from the UK and US have been flying over and added that Lamar would always be welcome "with an open invitation anytime". He and his brother Stephen, who is also a boxer, met Lamar while he was boxing at the same gym they were training at.

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The rap superstar had just finished his own training session when McKenna and his brother began eight rounds of technical sparring. "Me and Stephen looked at each other straight away," McKenna recalled. The pair are competitive, he said, so having the rap superstar watch on only spurred them on.

Lamar stayed for every round. McKenna, who was living in California at the time would go on to regularly cross paths with Lamar at the gym. "We got talking to him after and got on well with him," he said.

"Real nice fellow, down to earth, no arrogance or nothing. "Image source, Team McKennaImage caption, Aaron Mckenna, left, with Kendrick Lamar and Stephen McKenna rightWhen McKenna had a fight scheduled at Fantasy Springs casino, more than four hours from Los Angeles, Lamar decided he wanted to attend. Just before the boxer from the little village of Smithborough in County Monaghan was due to make the walk to the ring, the rapper appeared at his dressing room door.

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"He came to my dressing room and wished me luck," McKenna said. "For someone of his magnitude to come in and wish me luck just shows how good of a person he is. "McKenna went on to score a second-round knockout.

The pair remained in touch until the boxer returned to Ireland with his family during the Covid-19 pandemic. Lamar's fame has only grown in the years since. In 2025, he won five Grammy Awards for his hit song Not Like Us before headlining the Super Bowl halftime show.

'Kendrick welcome in Monaghan'Speaking recently on Sky Sports Toe2Toe podcast, McKenna reflected on the unlikely friendship. The 26-year-old now finds himself preparing for a much bigger moment. When Lamar was watching ringside, McKenna was a teenager with only a handful of professional fights behind him.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.