The Irish pair will meet on the Katie Taylor-Flora Pili undercard, shown exclusively live on DAZN at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.

"I was grateful to be back in the mix to fight a world title eliminator," Donovan (15-2, 11 KOs) told The Ring on the topic of his last outing on May 15.

"Winning means fighting for a world title, [defeat] would have been game over. So the risk was big but going to Germany was a great experience, I handled the occasion pretty well."

"Without looking past Tyrone, this is a fight I should win. If I want to compete with the world's best welterweights, I have to be beating McKenna."

The 27-year-old southpaw has endured a difficult spell, losing a two-fight series with Lewis Crocker in circumstances that would have broken lesser men.

While ahead on the scorecards, Donovan hit Crocker after the bell and was subsequently disqualified when his opponent couldn't come out for the ninth round of their March 2025 meeting.

The two met in a rematch six months later where Crocker boxed a completely different style, one appearing to flummox Donovan. He twice had to climb off the canvas, in rounds three and five. Despite boxing well, those knockdowns proved decisive as the Limerick southpaw suffered a 12-round split decision defeat.

"[Trainer Andy Lee and I] went over the two fights, realistically I won 17 rounds and lost three but lost two fights," Donovan said. "I should be a world champion but unfortunately, I'm not, so the road continues to get there.

"You've got to take the highs and lows; gotta keep moving forward. I am a bit angry the way the fights turned out, but it's made me a better person, working harder and being more disciplined. It shows even when you're favorite to be world champion, sometimes God has other plans."

He'll look to make a statement by beating McKenna but isn't overlooking his countryman.

"Tyrone is a proud Irishman and it's never easy to beat a proud Irishman, fighting in front of 80,000 fans," he said.

"He's had a great camp with Jaron Ennis' team in Philadelphia and will be in gret shape. I want to see the best Tyrone, I know they say he's a bit past his best but I want to see his best as I'm hungry and dangerous."

All being well then he'll face Liam Paro for world honors early next year. The two-weight world champion outhustled Crocker to pick up the IBF title in Brisbane, Australia on June 24.

"We don't have a timeframe, but I know he has to have his voluntary fight soon. Whether it's [WBO champion Devin] Haney, George Kambosos or whoever, if it doesn't take place, I'll be mandatory straight away," he said.

"This McKenna fight has come at a great time for me, it's about keeping active, being in the gym and waiting for Paro to be ready for the fight."

"My goal is to fight Paro, become IBF world champion, then push on to fight the other beltholders. I'm very excited for what's ahead. I've had my share of ups and downs over the last 12 months, but am ready now to become world champion."

McKenna (25-6-1, 8 KOs) has been a professional since 2012. He won 16 of his first 17 fights before losing his unbeaten record in a 10-round decision against The Ring's No. 3 welterweight Jack Catterall.

Since then, he has slipped into the opponent role when he stepped up, notably suffering defeats against Regis Prograis (TKO), Crocker (UD10) and Harlem Eubank (TKO10). 36-year-old McKenna will end a year-long layoff here, having scored a seventh-round stoppage of Dylan Moran on the Crocker-Donovan II undercard last September.