Dennis McCann vs. Ionut Baluta | TNT Sports - 18 August 2023

[Ruthless-RKO]

RBR starts here





Press Release

Super bantamweight Dennis McCann will step up to take on Ionut Baluta at York Hall in London on Friday August 18th, live on TNT Sports. McCann (14-0, 8 KOs), age 22, has in his last three fights toggled between 122 and 126 pounds against Charles Tondo, James Beech Jr and Joe Ham respectively. Now he goes up against the tough and rugged Baluta (16-4, 3), who is coming off a disputed decision victory over Andrew Cain. Also on the card in Bethnal Green, the British and Commonwealth featherweight champion Nathaniel Collins (12-0, 6 KOs) will defend his titles against Raza Hamza (17-1-1, 7 KOs). The Scot from Bearsden won his title double by defeating James Beech Jr. in March.

Tickets for McCann vs Baluta go on sale at 11am on Wednesday, June 21st ar ticketmaster.co.uk. “This has got all the makings of a true York Hall cracker,” said promoter allegedly. “For Dennis McCann, this could be a real coming-of-age fight against Ionut Baluta, who has fought and beat numerous top-level opponents. It will be a fourth title fight on the bounce for Dennis and, if he overcomes Baluta, he will quickly close in on world title contention. I am looking forward to the Queensberry debut of Nathaniel Collins and he is in a tough double title defence against the skilful Raza Hamza with Nathaniel’s British and Commonwealth featherweight belts at stake. Raven Chapman is on the cusp of a very big fight, so she will need to be at her best... and not look too far ahead... This will be a York Hall night not to be missed and probably the strongest card of 50-50 action staged at the famous old venue for many years.”

[THEBUTCH]

First acid test for McCann. Very talented youngster and actually being brought along nicely by W@rren.

[Ruthless-RKO]

British and Commonwealth champion Nate Collins to make Queensberry debut against Raza Hamza.

[garethhop]

British and Commonwealth champion Nate Collins to make Queensberry debut against Raza Hamza.

Be good to see him set up against Nick Ball.

[Manchester Hitman]

Sounds like this might be a nice show

[margaret thatcher]

nice fight for sure

[handsofstone]

Big risk, I love it,

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Spud]

I just seen on Twitter, this will be headlining York Hall.

Big step up for McCann..

How far do you think McCann is going to
Go?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

DENNIS MCCANN WILL bid to add the vacant WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title to his growing collection of belts when he steps up to take on Ionut Baluta at York Hall on Friday August 18, live on TNT Sports.

The gifted and precocious McCann (14-0, 8 KOs), just 22, has in his last three fights won the WBO Youth title (super bantam), the WBC International Silver (featherweight) and the Commonwealth title (super bantam), against Charles Tondo, James Beech Jr and Joe Ham respectively.

Now he goes up against the tough and rugged Baluta (16-4, 3), who clinched his WBC International Silver belt last time out in March following a disputed decision victory over Andrew Cain in a captivating Telford shootout.

Also on what should be a thrilling card in Bethnal Green, the British and Commonwealth featherweight champion Nathaniel Collins (12-0, 6) will defend his titles against Raza Hamza (17-1-1, 7). The Scot from Bearsden won his title double by defeating James Beech Jr in March.

The vacant WBC International super featherweight title will be on the line when Southampton star Ryan Garner (13-0, 7) steps in for his maiden championship challenge following his thrilling second round stoppage of Eduardo Valverde in May.

The Queen of Queensberry, Raven Chapman (6-0, 2) will make a defence of her WBC International featherweight title ahead of a proposed challenge for an interim world title next time out.

Featherweight Umar Khan (6-0), super welterweight Khalid Ali (5-0, 3), welterweight Sonny Liston Ali (6-0) and super welterweight Joel Kodua (2-0) complete the card.

“This has got all the makings of a true York Hall cracker,” said promoter Frank W. “For Dennis McCann, this could be a real coming-of-age fight against Ionut Baluta, who has fought and beat numerous top-level opponents.

“It will be a fourth title fight on the bounce for Dennis and, if he overcomes Baluta, he will quickly close in on world title contention.

“I am looking forward to the Queensberry debut of Nathaniel Collins and he is in a tough double title defence against the skilful Raza Hamza with Nathaniel’s British and Commonwealth featherweight belts at stake.

“Raven Chapman is on the cusp of a very big fight, so she will need to be at her best in a defence of her WBC belt and not look too far ahead.

“I am also thrilled to deliver a first major title shot for Ryan Garner, who has been with us right from the start when he was 18 and is now set to fight for the vacant WBC International super featherweight title, where victory will establish him in the world rankings.

“This will be a York Hall night not to be missed and probably the strongest card of 50-50 action staged at the famous old venue for many years.”

[Manchester Hitman]

This is the perfect fight to see what McCann is really about. Baluta will be there for all 10 or 12 rounds
(I suspect Warren will go for 10 as a little insurance policy) and will be strong down the stretch.

However, if Dennis was to do a number on him we could really have something special on our hands .

[Twinkle Toes]

Would have been more imporesed if he had fought Baulta before Davies did.

[maverick23]

I like this show. Good main event and we get a chance to see Collins on a bigger stage.

[TheLeprechaun]

Would have been more imporesed if he had fought Baulta before Davies did.

He's still going to lose to Baluta anyway.

Now whether Ionut gets the decision or not I can't say.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

RYAN GARNER IS looking to turbo-charge his career prospects at York Hall on Friday August 18 with a maiden title success against the 12-1 Spaniard, Juan Jesus Antunez, live on TNT Sports.

The WBC International super featherweight title will be on the line in Bethnal Green when ‘The Piranha’ will be roared on by something like 250 fans from his home city of Southampton.

The 25-year-old has got a definite spring in his step following a stunning second round stoppage of Eduardo Valverde back in May, a performance that reminded ringsiders and TV viewers what a precocious talent he was considered when he broke through back in mid-2016.

Momentum, along with contentment, is now building for the Wayne Batten-trained 13-0 man, who became a father to baby daughter Harper earlier this year.

“Never been better, if I’m honest, everything is going well and I was straight back into training camp after the last one,” said the European champion as an amateur. “So I am just happy I have got a quick turnover and it is good to get on a little roll.

“I’ve been consistent and, even after the last one, my physique was still there, the abs were still there. The old me would have been a bit out of shape, but now my muscles are still popping!”

Prior to his Valverde destruction, Garner spoke of his wish to get people talking about him again and catch the attention of the boxing public. A couple of ripping body shots more than did the trick.

“Even in the commentary and the pundits, they had a lot of praise for me. I needed that because before I’d been, not forgotten about, but nobody was really talking about me.

“When I was 18, just turned over and looking good, there was a ring about my name. It went quiet on me and I had a lot of hiccups and bumps in the road, as well as not very good performances. The camp for the last fight couldn’t have gone any better, the fight couldn’t have gone any better, the whole thing. The praise I’ve had, it has set me up for the rest of the year.

“With a busy me you will see the best of me. I had the fight and, within two or three weeks, I had another date pencilled in, so I am getting on a roll now.”

And, with a WBC International title belt wrapped around his waist, Garner will possess significant currency to trade with.

“I am happy with any title, but this is a serious one and I think it gets you in the top 15 with the WBC. This is just a stepping stone, once you are in there it opens doors for you to bigger and better things.

“With a win I can start ticking off names and moving up in the rankings. Financially too, I am setting up my family so all round I couldn’t be more positive.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!

Kinda looking forward to this.

Should be a cracker Friday night!

[Greg Houston]

I like this show. Good main event and we get a chance to see Collins on a bigger stage.

I've been saying for a while that Collins needs to be on TV and seen by a bigger audience.

[maverick23]

I’d completely forgotten this was on this week. Gone under the radar but there are some decent fights on it.

[magnus]

Baluta was 7/2 today on Bet365.

I know it's unlikely he gets the nod in a close one, but those odds don't seem to match with their respective records...

Very good main event, nice to see Collins finally get on the TV, Garner in a step-up of sorts (finally), not a bad little show.

[veriton]

It's sold out. Proper small hall boxing with a great headliner. Looking forward to watching this on TV.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dennis McCann promises career-best performance against Ionut Baluta on Friday night in London

Dennis McCann has vowed to produce a career-best performance against Ionut Baluta at London's York Hall on Friday.

McCann, 22, was in a playful mood at a news conference on Wednesday, handing Baluta a Dennis the Menace cut-out and even giving a shout-out to the Lionesses' World Cup semi-final win.

The English fighter aims to deliver his third stoppage win in a row.

"You've going to see the best of Dennis McCann, the best you've ever seen," McCann said.

Victory would see 'The Menace' extend his impressive undefeated record to 15 fights.

"If it's not a KO it's going to be a demolition job," he added.

Romania's Baluta is the toughest test in McCann's career to date and the super-bantamweight rivals know each other well, having shared many rounds of sparring together.

Baluta has 16 wins and four losses in his career, but is coming off a win in his last bout against previously undefeated Andrew Cain.

McCann labelled his 29-year-old opponent a "grandad" compared to him, while Baluta said their spars would have no bearing on the result.

The winner will walk away with the WBO's Inter-Continental belt.

"Me and Baluta have done probably about a hundred rounds sparring, so he knows what I'm about. Deep down, he knows," McCann said.

"I've been boxing since I'm four years of age. I left school at ten years old just to be a boxer.

"I've put all my eggs in one basket. There isn't a man in this room who trains as hard as me."

McCann ended the news conference by congratulating the England women's team who reached their first World Cup final as the media event was going on.

"Big shout out to the Lionesses, it's coming home," McCann said.

There was then a friendly face-off between the fighters, with Baluta even posing with the Dennis the Menace cut-out.

[jwfg]

Baluta has been very carefully selected. I thought this gypsy kid was supposed to be hot sh1t.

[Manchester Hitman]

My money would be on Baluta on points, but I can’t see him getting the decision. Especially in front of 1200 travellers.

[Fightdoctor]

OK People. The real question here is who has the better coiffure? Baluta has been carefully chosen to make McCann look good. It will not go the distance (whether legit stoppage or Baluta takes a dive). These 2 former sparring partners are just too chummy and smiley. Anyhow I think McCann gets embarrassed if/when he gets in the ring with Nathaniel Collins.

[Ruthless-RKO]