Dennis McCann dreaming of Naoya Inoue as he prepares for Peter McGrail

Dennis McCann and Peter McGrail may train less than a mile apart in Liverpool, England, but in a month’s time the junior featherweights will be packing their bags and boarding flights to Saudi Arabia.  

McCann, 16-0-1 (8 KOs), and McGrail, 10-1 (6 KOs), are scheduled to meet on the undercard on the unified heavyweight title rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, which takes place in Riyadh on December 21. 

The charismatic McCann – who trains with Joe McNally and Declan O’Rourke at the Rotunda Gym – turned professional as a baby-faced 18-year-old and has never hidden his confidence and belief that he would reach the very top. 

Now, the 23-year-old has been given the kind of platform he has always wanted and in McGrail – who trains at the Everton Red Gym – he has the kind of opponent who should bring out the best in him. 

McCann is looking forward to being a part of such a major event and wants to take the opportunity to announce himself on the world stage. 

“It’s probably one of the biggest fights in Britain, I think,” McCann said during Queensberry’s “Behind the Grind” show. 

“I’m not overlooking Peter McGrail. He’s a good fighter but he’s just not as good as me and I’m gonna show that. I can’t wait to show people what I’m about. 

“I’ve got a bit of a target on my back. I’ve got a few people want to beat me, don’t they? They all think they can beat me but until they get in there and get punched in the face, they don’t understand what ‘The Menace’ is about and how strong ‘The Menace’ is. They don’t understand how good I am.”

As British, Commonwealth and European titleholder, McCann is arguably the biggest player on a bubbling British junior featherweight scene. 

McGrail, a 2020 Olympian, has the deepest amateur pedigree of a talented group and seemed to be on track for a long career at world title level until he shockingly ran into Ja’Rico Quinn’s right hand in Arizona last year. He has brushed off that loss and rebuilt with two solid victories. 

Two weeks ago, Shabaz Masoud made a strong case that he should be considered the top dog by outboxing the red hot and previously unbeaten Liam Davies to take the IBO title. 

Although Davies now seems set for a move up to featherweight, McCann has plenty of unfinished business to attend to at 122lbs and although he is currently fixated on proving himself the best in Britain, he isn’t restricting himself to these shores.

McCann has allowed himself to think about a fight with the current undisputed junior featherweight champion and pound-for-pound great Naoya Inoue. 

“I think it’s a fantastic division,” McCann said. “I’m not sounding cocky or arrogant in any way but I think I wipe the floor with Shabaz Masoud, I really, really do. I’ll speak about him after. I’ve got another opponent in my way in Peter so we’ll talk about Shabaz after this fight. That’ll be on my hit list next.

“Inoue, what is he now, 32 years of age? I would believe in myself. People call me crazy … but I would believe in myself. Give it to Peter next, I could give it to Shabaz Masoud – I don’t want to sound too cocky, I’m not overlooking Peter as I said – and then I’ll come straight for the head of the snake. I’ll fly straight to Japan before I move up in weight. I’ll do it. No problem.”

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79