Lee Cutler has set his sights on an ambitious future showdown with IBF middleweight world champion Aaron McKenna, but the British fighter knows he must first overcome the dangerous Louis Greene when the pair meet in London.
Cutler and Greene are scheduled to clash over 10 rounds at Zuffa Boxing 11 at the Copper Box Arena on September 26, with both fighters viewing the contest as a potential gateway towards much bigger opportunities in the middleweight division.
For Cutler, there is an additional storyline surrounding the McKenna family.
He already owns a victory over Aaron’s brother, Stevie McKenna, having defeated the aggressive Irishman in an entertaining contest in December 2024. That remains the only professional defeat on Stevie McKenna’s record and has continued to fuel talk of a possible rematch.
Cutler had expected Stevie to call for another fight after returning to winning form this year, but the rematch has yet to materialise.
Instead, Cutler is now looking even higher.
Aaron McKenna became IBF middleweight world champion on August 8, 2026, defeating previously unbeaten Etinosa Oliha by unanimous decision at Dublin’s 3Arena to claim the vacant title. The victory made the 27-year old one of Ireland’s leading fighters and placed him firmly at the top of the middleweight division.
Cutler believes a future meeting with the new champion is realistic if he continues winning.
He has acknowledged that McKenna would represent an extremely difficult challenge but has also made clear that he can see himself sharing the ring with the Irishman. A victory over Greene would strengthen Cutler’s argument that he deserves to move towards world level opposition.
Before any discussion about McKenna can become serious, however, Cutler faces a significant obstacle.
Louis Greene is known for his power and aggressive approach, making the upcoming contest a potentially explosive stylistic matchup. Cutler has described Greene as an extremely dangerous opponent who can change a fight with a single punch.
Both fighters prefer to operate on the front foot, raising the possibility of a high action contest at the Copper Box.
Cutler has stressed that he cannot afford to become distracted by possible future opportunities.
He believes he will need to remain disciplined throughout the scheduled 10 rounds, using his boxing ability rather than simply becoming involved in an exchange of heavy punches with Greene.
The Bournemouth fighter enters the contest having rebuilt momentum after a difficult period.
Following his victory over Stevie McKenna, Cutler suffered a technical-decision defeat against experienced campaigner Sam Eggington. He responded strongly in June, stopping Aaron Sutton in the third round during Zuffa Boxing’s event in Bournemouth.
That victory put Cutler back on track and provided the platform for his meeting with Greene.
Greene, meanwhile, brings enough punching power to make him a serious threat. Cutler believes the matchup is important for both men because each can use victory as a stepping stone towards the higher levels of the division.
The wider middleweight picture also makes the fight particularly interesting.
Aaron McKenna’s world title triumph has created a new target for contenders looking to move towards championship opportunities. The unbeaten Irishman won the vacant IBF crown after years of building his professional record and now sits among the division’s recognized champions.
For Cutler, defeating another member of the McKenna family would create an obvious storyline.
A potential Cutler Aaron McKenna fight would carry both championship significance and a personal sporting narrative, with Cutler having already defeated Stevie.
But that remains a future possibility rather than a confirmed contest.
The immediate challenge is Greene.
Their middleweight bout forms part of a strong Zuffa Boxing 11 card headlined by heavyweight Johnny Fisher against Michael Pirotton, with Craig Richards also facing Radivoje Kalajdzic in light heavyweight action.
Cutler therefore enters Saturday night with plenty at stake.
Victory could move him closer to the world title conversation and potentially open the door to the fight he wants against Aaron McKenna.
Defeat, however, would significantly slow those ambitions.
For now, Cutler’s message is clear: the world champion may be the ultimate target, but Louis Greene is the only fighter who matters first.
