Undefeated Maidstone super-bantamweight Dennis McCann (14-0, 8KOs) steps up for the sternest challenge of his career so far against Romania’s dangerous Ionut Baluta (16-4, 3KOs) on Friday.
The pair are set to headline Bethnal Green’s iconic York Hall Leisure Centre on Friday evening with coverage set to begin at 7:30pm on TNT Sports.
McCann’s riskiest fight yet
McCann has hardly put a foot wrong since entering the professional ranks in May 2019 and collected the vacant Commonwealth title at 122lbs with an eighth-round stoppage of Joe Ham in November.
The 22 year old operates among a flourishing super-bantamweight division with options aplenty providing he moves past Baluta who himself has proved a stubborn challenger for other members of Frank Warren‘s Queensberry Promotions stable.
After previously basing himself out of Spain, Baluta now trains out of Watford after winning four of his six fights on British soil.
Only Michael Conlan and Liam Davies have had their hands raised against the 29 year old, both on points.
Embed from Getty ImagesAbove: McCann captured his eighth stoppage in his Commonwealth title victory over Ham in November. Photo: Alex Morton/Getty Images.
Baluta most recently handed Andrew Cain the first defeat of his career, climbing off the canvas in the first before dropping the Liverpudlian in the ninth to eventually win by split-decision after ten rounds.
McCann however remains unfazed and vows to impress in his first time headlining a professional show.
“[This is] the first of many main events. This is the best camp I’ve ever had my whole life, I’m feeling very strong and Friday night will be the best you’ve ever seen of Dennis McCann”, he said.
“We’ve done about 100 rounds sparring so he knows what I’m about – deep down, he knows.”
Baluta meanwhile insists McCann will venture down a similar path to the likes of Cain and become the latest name to his ever-growing list of British scalps.
“I’m known as ‘Il Capo’ – the Godfather – and on Friday night he’ll find out who I am. I’m in England again to win the belt.”
Undercard action
Bearsden’s British and Commonwealth featherweight champion Nathaniel Collins (12-0, 6KOs) defends against Birmingham’s Raza Hamza (17-1-1, 7KOs) in the chief support.
Collins added the British with a seventh-round stoppage of former belt-holder James Beech Jr in March.
Hamza’s most recent outing also came against Walsall’s Beech Jr as the 31 year old edged a closely-fought unanimous decision in December to put himself in pole position to challenge for the British title.
Staying at featherweight, Norfolk prospect Raven Chapman (6-0, 2KOs) continues her professional journey against Brazil’s undefeated Lila dos Santos Furtado (9-0, 1KO) over ten rounds.
Chapman has hardly lost a round since turning professional in September 2021 and remains in good stead to challenge for the WBC featherweight title in the near future – currently held by undisputed champion Amanda Serrano.
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