Unbeaten super-bantamweight contender Dennis McCann vowed during Wednesday’s press conference that we’ll see the very best of him before his maiden main event matchup tonight against former European champion Ionut Baluta. The 29-year-old is riding a high after recovering from danger to outwork then-unbeaten prospect Andrew Cain – so will history repeat itself here?
McCann: Get your popcorn ready, this will be explosive
- McCann didn’t mince words on Wednesday: “This will be the first of many main events – the best camp I’ve ever had in my life – you’ll see the best of me. Me and Baluta have done about 100 sparring rounds, deep down he knows what I’m about… I’ve gained muscle and size [since Nov. 2022, his last fight], I’m stronger and this is where the knockouts start coming in.”
- Baluta, using British cruiserweight Anees Taj to translate, had a bullish response: “UK is my second home, looking forward to being back. He’s very big on social media, but it’s a different cup of tea in the ring… sparring is one thing, fighting is another. All those fans messaging him to say McCann will stop him, he can’t wait [to prove them wrong].”
- Taj, also acting as his legal advisor, tells me Baluta has been promised a big fight – Liam Davies rematch among the possible options – if he produces another upset victory vs. another unbeaten contender
Dennis McCann (14-0, 8 KOs) vs. Ionut Baluta (16-4, 3 KOs)
Vacant WBO Intercontinental super-bantamweight championship
Live at York Hall and on TNT Sports in UK — ringwalks expected for 10.30pm
Stay tuned for post-fight coverage with me on moandsports.com
Dennis McCann’s climb up the super-bantamweight ladder continues when the 22-year-old rising contender headlines a seven-fight York Hall card tonight as his toughest test awaits him in former European divisional champion Ionut Baluta.
Ranked #14 in the world by the WBO, one of two belts Naoya Inoue seized from Stephen Fulton last month, he’s passed the tests set ahead of him without a hitch so far as the opposition level has steadily risen with time. This is another upgrade.
Just a quick skim of their resumes tells the story – Baluta has shared the ring with considerably better opposition and not looked out of place, win or lose, while McCann’s performances have proven he’s worthy of a chance to join that group.
McCann’s last five fights
Joe Ham, R8 TKO – Nov. 22
James Beech Jnr, R8 TKO – July 22
Charles Tondo, UD8 – March 2022
Juan Jose Jurado, UD8 – Dec. 21
John Chuwa, R2 TKO – July 2021
Baluta’s last five fights
Andrew Cain, SD10 win – March 2023
Liam Davies, UD12 loss – Nov. 22
Brad Foster, UD10 win – May 2022
Michael Conlan, MD12 loss – April 2021
David Oliver Joyce, R3 TKO – Sept. 2020
A future fight with British and European champion Liam Davies remains in the offing, after the 27-year-old’s first-round TKO win over Jason Cunningham three weeks ago.
Yet as the age old saying goes, don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Both are under the Queensberry banner, so it’d be relatively easy to make – Davies watched ringside as McCann outclassed Joe Ham en route to an R8 stoppage.
That victory came a week after Davies outpointed Baluta over 12 rounds in Telford and McCann is looking to provide an even bigger statement against an improved fighter with upset potential, who himself will be full of renewed confidence again.
After all, Baluta waded through danger and recovered from two first-round knockdowns to stun unbeaten contender Andrew Cain in March.
He got the split decision nod over ten rounds that night, this is scheduled for 12 – McCann and his entourage aren’t alone in believing it’ll be over before the final bell.
McCann-Baluta predictions, who said what?
Nathaniel Collins: “I could not predict that and it looks like it’s gonna be a crazy barnstormer, both of them are going to go to war! I’m just looking forward to being a fan of that, I’m a fan of boxing first and foremost.
Dennis will find a way to get it done, he’s formidable and will find a way no matter what so you’re asking me who I’m leaning here.. it’s McCann.”
Raza Hamza: “Very good fight. McCann’s a great prospect, Baluta a tough man. Whoever has prepared properly, done half-a-percentage more will win that fight. I can’t make a prediction… but who am I leaning towards?
McCann’s very talented, I don’t know. I think Dennis has had a great camp, his engine and smart boxing skills will get him through it.”
In conversation with Baluta and Taj
As Baluta’s legal advisor Anees Taj told me midweek, they’ve been promised a big fight in 2-3 months’ time – fitness permitting – should he prevail again here.
Mosope: There seems to be some confusion over the confrontation in Marbella, so when was this fight originally offered?
Taj: A few days, actually I think one day after the Andrew Cain win, because we spoke about it on the way home from Telford. He didn’t mind having it, Ionut then went away to train in Marbella.
MO: Okay, so any reason for the four-month delay?
Taj: There was talk from his manager Francis [Warren] and [promoter] Frank about tying up intricate little details like a rematch, promotional stuff, fight purse…
We were promised a fight on a big show, Wembley Stadium – I’m sure you know who – then when that date fell through, this was the alternative and we were ready for it.
MO: I wasn’t in Telford five months ago, so can you remember how the overall feeling was after that fight and performance on a tough night you eventually came through?
Taj (translating for Baluta): I was happy to come through that experience, knew I won enough rounds [when it went to the scorecards] and was glad to win against a very angry fighter in Cain on a hard night, like you said.
Now, I’m a different fighter. A lot stronger, better than that night showed and physically thicker too, which helps.
MO: Lastly for you Anees, today marks two months exactly since the second Viddal Riley defeat. Have you had much time to process it, and what’s next?
AT: So.. in terms of processing the defeat, I lost my grandfather three days afterwards. Just got back into the UK last week, buried him and did the traditional Islamic rights we have to do, so I’m back into training this week but have to get back properly.
I’ve got to help a friend of mine – he’s got a title fight in October – with sparring. I’m not a journeyman, getting paid to lose doesn’t interest me because every fight I’ve had… I’ve believed I can win. This is one step back to take five steps forward.
Hopefully I can get back in there before the year ends, not a big one, but a few hard learning fights so I can gel with my coach. If I’m still boxing next year, in twelve months time I anticipate being in big title fights.
Tonight’s York Hall card, is as follows
WBO Intercontinental super-bantamweight title: Dennis McCann vs. Ionut Baluta
British, Commonwealth featherweight titles: Nathaniel Collins (c) vs. Raza Hamza
10 rounds
Vacant WBC Intl super-featherweight title: Ryan Garner vs. Juan Jesus Antunez
WBC Intl women’s featherweight championship: Raven Chapman vs. Lila dos Santos Furtado
6 rounds
Featherweight: Umar Khan vs. Kevin Trana
Light-middleweight: Khalid Ali vs. Nikola Stoyanov
Light-middleweight: Joel Kodua vs. Eligio Palacios
All pictures and video shown in this piece, captured by me
Mo and Sports 