Dennis McCann exclusive: I enjoy it because I know I’m better than all of them

Most fighters will insist – or lie – that they have absolutely no interest in how their rivals dealt with a common opponent. They do, of course. It is just a way of relieving a little pressure as a big fight draws closer.

Dennis ‘The Menace’ McCann isn’t one of those fighters. He loves the comparison. The unbeaten 22-year-old has seen Ionut Baluta drag a who’s who of British super bantamweights to hell and back and McCann can’t wait to show off his ability when he fights the exciting Romanian this weekend. For all the latest fight odds, visit our sportsbook.

“I wanna give a big statement”

“Definitely. That’s the aim. Show them all who the king of the super bantamweight division is.

“I do enjoy it because I know I’m better than all of them. I wanna give a big statement and show them all how good I am and that there are levels to this game,” McCann (14-0, 8 KO’s) told 32Red.

“I’m buzzing for this one. Absolutely buzzing. I’ve had a great training camp and I can’t wait to take him out of the game.”

McCann corkscrew uppercutted his way onto the scene as an angelic faced teenager. A spectacular debut instantly making him one of the most exciting youngsters in British boxing. He then settled down, growing from a wiry bantamweight into a strong, rangy super bantamweight. There were times when McCann was steady rather than spectacular but they were important months in his development. He will need both explosiveness and guile to beat Baluta.

“I’m physically stronger. People forget that when I was a professional I was about three weeks 18 and I looked about twelve. I wasn’t even your average 18 year old,” the Commonwealth champion said. “I was still stopping guys but now, they don’t realise. These months I haven’t been in the ring, I’ve grown about a half inch taller, I’ve gained more muscle and got stronger. I’m ready for all of them now. I’m 22 years of age but still developing. I feel like I’m just getting bigger. I’m punching harder and my I.Q. is growing.”

“When I hit them I see the shock”

‘The Menace’ returned to McCann’s game in 2022 and James Beech Jnr and Joe Ham both had to endure his full repertoire. After 4 years as a professional, he has figured out how to break a fighter down before cutting loose and exploding into life for the finish. He is starting to look like a complete fighter.

“I was dead at the weight at bantamweight. It just wasn’t feasible to do it. It was impossible. I moved upto super bantamweight and was going through a little bit of hard time if I’m honest with you with family members passing away. As I get older and more professional, I know what’s at stake. Every fight is a big risk and I treat them as world title fights,” he said.

“Anybody who comes down and spars me now – they can be super featherweights or lightweights – I can see it in their faces. When I hit them I see the shock. Sparring is sparring and doesn’t mean anything but I’ve done a number on these guys and they weren’t expecting it.”

Baluta requires McCann’s full focus. It is easy but lazy to say that if you show up below your best, Baluta can beat you. He is better than that. The Romanian has always been a real handful but in recent times he has become the scourge of British fighters.

“This is a make or break fight”

Over the past six years, British and European champion Liam Davies, and Michael Conlan are the only people to have beaten him and he has taken the scalps of Andrew Cain, Brad Foster., TJ Doheny and David Oliver Joyce. McCann’s offensive weapons are pretty well proven now but we might just be about to see how good his defence is.

“1 million percent. This is a make or break fight. It’s a major night for me. This kid has fought at world level and beaten world champions. Davies beat him – and boxed well, fair play to him – but this is my time now. I think I’m three or four fights away from a world title if I use my brain. I’m literally in touching distance,” he said.

“If he wants to go to war for ten rounds then we can have a war. If he wants to box, then I’m ready to box. I can box, I can punch, I’m stronger, I’m bigger. In my head the only person who can beat me is myself. Camp has gone great so far, so the only way is up, my friend. The only way is up.

“I punch harder and I’m cleverer than him. I’m better looking. He ain’t got a chance.”

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