KENT southpaw Dennis McCann has not had the year that he was hoping for after winning the European title last July. Things have now gotten worse for the 24-year-old, with confirmation that the European Boxing Union have stripped him of his belt.
After establishing himself as one of the United Kingdom’s standout prospects and winning the Commonwealth super-bantamweight title, McCann, 16-0-1 (8 KOs), stepped up to face perennial plan-disrupter Ionut Baluta in August 2023.
Despite being a sizeable underdog, Baluta seemed to get the better of the exchanges. When the contest was brought to a close due to a head clash in the ninth round, Baluta was understandably aggrieved to have only been rewarded with a draw.
McCann went on to outpoint Brad Strand to win the British title upon his next outing. There were still unanswered questions with Baluta, so the pair ran it back with the vacant European super-bantamweight crown also up for grabs.
This time around, McCann looked like a new fighter and bossed proceedings from the get-go in a dominant, unanimous decision victory that convinced fans of his immense potential.
However, ahead of a showdown with Peter McGrail on the Fury-Usyk II card in December, it was revealed that McCann had tested positive for drostanolone and trenbolone – two anabolic-androgenic steroids.
McCann was subsequently removed from the card and is yet to fight since that triumph over Baluta last July. Still, promoter Frank Warren maintained that the situation is ‘a farce’ last month, with ongoing legal issues restricting the release of further details.
Now it has been confirmed that the EBU have decided to strip McCann of their 122lb title, with Liverpool’s Peter McGrail named as a challenger for the vacant belt.
McGrail has been previously scheduled to take on Shabaz Masound in a salivating all-British affair. Fans are clamouring for that bout to be made once again, with a European title only adding to the allure of their proposed scrap.
