Dennis McCann tests positive for banned substance; Peter McGrail fight is off

Dennis Mcccan

The fight between junior featherweights Dennis McCann and Peter McGrail will no longer be taking place next week after McCann tested positive for a banned substance, according to boxing financier Turki Alalshikh, who posted the news on social media.

“The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) has today informed all relevant parties that Dennis McCann has returned an adverse finding following an anti-doping test conducted in advance of his upcoming bout,” Alalshikh posted on his X account on Friday. “Mr. McCann’s scheduled fight next Saturday will no longer take place, as the relevant parties investigate the matter further. No further comment on this will be made at this time.”

It has not yet been said what substance(s) showed up in McCann’s drug test or whether McGrail will still appear on the December 21 undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

McCann, a 23-year-old from Maidstone, England, is 16-0-1 (8 KOs) and coming off decision wins this year over the 11-0 Brad Strand and the 16-4-1 Ionut Baluta. McCann was working his way up the rankings at 122 and is currently rated 13th by the IBF, 11th by the WBC and third by the WBO.

McGrail, a 28-year-old from Liverpool, is 10-1 (6 KOs). He has won two straight since suffering a fifth-round knockout against Ja’Rico O’Quinn a year ago. He is rated 10th by the WBA.