Tyrone McKenna vs Chris Jenkins: Mighty Celt ready to unlock 'missing link' on Michael Conlan undercard

Tyrone McKenna believes he will unlock the "missing link" when he returns to the ring next month.

McKenna will move up to welterweight for his clash with Welshman Chris Jenkins on the undercard of Michael Conlan vs Miguel Marriaga at the SSE Arena on August 6.

The 32-year-old has promised another toe-to-toe show in front of the Belfast fans, and believes moving up to 147lbs will bring out the best in him.

"I am moving up to welterweight and I think it is a good opponent to see how I get on at that weight. I have to see how I feel at the weight, and it is an exciting fight as well," he told Belfast Live.

"He always comes for a war, and we all know I love a war. That suits me.

"He won't run away or try to annoy me by trying to box me. He will stand toe-to-toe and that's what we all want to see.

"That brings out the best in me. I love going into the trenches and breaking people's hearts and that's what I think I can do to this guy."

McKenna believes the time is right to make the move from super-lightweight to welter, and admitted he did struggle on the scales for his previous fight against Regis Prograis back in March.

"I have been this weight 14 years. It comes to a stage when you can't make it anymore," he added.

"I felt it on the scales in my last fight against Prograis. It was too big a fight to say no to, or I would have moved up in weight before then.

"I accepted that fight and made the weight for it. But I knew I would be moving up after that.

"When I spar and I am sitting at the heavier weight I always spar much better. But then when I fight I feel there is something missing.

"Hopefully that missing link is the weight. I will hopefully feel like a new man at welterweight."

McKenna overcame an early storm to grow