Dennis McCann made a significant step up in class at York Hall, Bethnal Green, but was frustrated in being held to a technical draw by Ionut Baluta for the vacant WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title. McCann suffered a cut on his eye that forced the referee to eventually stop the contest and send the fight to the scorecards.
It was a technical opening round, shaded by McCann’s footwork, but Baluta (16-4-1, KO3), who was used to the role of underdog, defeating Andrew Cain last time out, wasn’t intimidated, landing a big right hand in the second that got McCann’s attention. The third was a round of two halves, and the fourth was a more scrappy affair, but Baluta landed some decent shots in the fifth, and it was an even clash at the halfway mark.
McCann (14-0-1, KO8) controlled the sixth off the jab, but round seven saw a landmark moment, as ’The Menace’ was badly cut from a clash of heads midway through the frame, with blood pouring from his forehead. Baluta sensed an opportunity, with McCann a crimson mess, and he went on the attack. The pair were involved in a real dog-fight, and the Romanian landed with a huge left hand that had McCann rocked in the eighth, but he recovered his senses. With McCann’s face drenched in blood, the referee sent the fight to the scorecards by stopping the bout.
With two scores of 86-86, the fight was called a draw. A third judge had McCann leading 87-86 at the time of the stoppage.
Majority draw 🤝
After being stopped during the ninth round, due to an accidental head clash, McCann and Baluta can’t be separated on the scorecards.#McCannBaluta
pic.twitter.com/8PuB5Kwcxj— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) August 18, 2023
Nathaniel Collins (13-0, KO7) made an incredible debut under the Queensbury banner, as he defended his British and Commonwealth featherweight titles in just over 20 seconds against Raza Hamza (17-2-1, KO7). Collins connected with a raking right hand that robbed Hamza of his senses, and he was counted out as the Scot won in sensational fashion.
SENSATIONAL! 😱@NateCollins60 stops Raza Hamza with his first punch to retain the British and Commonwealth Featherweight titles 🏆#McCannBaluta | Live on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/mRhCMXLL5v
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) August 18, 2023
Raven Chapman (7-0, KO2) banked some solid rounds, scoring a knockdown on the way to defending her WBC International featherweight title on the cards against Lila dos Santos Furtado (9-1, KO1). Scores of 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93 ensured ’The Omen’ remained unbeaten.
Ryan Garner (14-0, KO8) claimed the vacant WBC International super featherweight title, as he stopped Juan Jesus Antunez (12-2, KO4) in the third round of their meeting. Garner landed a volley of clubbing blows that forced the Spaniard to the canvas in the third, and ’The Piranha’ unleashed a sustained follow up attack after Antunez beat the count, and the referee called a halt.
The Piranha strikes! 💥@PiranhaGarner98 is the new WBC International Super Featherweight Champion after a clinical performance against Juan Jesus Antunez 🏆#McCannBaluta | Live on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/uy9g3ajVc1
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) August 18, 2023
Khalid Ali (6-0, KO3) had to survive a scare, as he got off the deck in the fifth before taking a points win over six at super welterweight against Nikola Stoyanov (3-6, KO0). Ali edged the decision, 57-56.
Nikola Stoyanov puts Khalid Ali down in the 5th! 😱#McCannBaluta | Live on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/wp2NOIJeZp
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) August 18, 2023
Umar Khan (7-0, KO0) extended his unbeaten record, coming through 58-56 at featherweight against Kevin Trana (15-8-2, KO9).
Joel Kodua (4-0, KO0) opened the show, and the super welterweight won all six rounds against Eligio Palacios (8-70-5, KO0).
Catch some of the post fight reaction and interviews from last night on our YouTube Channel.
