Former UFC star to make professional boxing debut on Crocker v Donovan 2 card
The Liverpool native, who ended her MMA career in March with a record of 14 wins and eight defeats, has signed with Matchroom Boxing.
"It was just the right time to leave the sport of MMA so I chose to leave the sport knowing I had a career waiting for me in boxing," McCann said earlier this month.
"The boxing pedigree is there. I was in and out of the boxing gym growing up because I like to fight and like to punch. I can just go. I will fight anyone, wherever, whenever."
Promoter Eddie Hearn added at the time: "She'll compete now as a boxer and about time, I'd like to say as well, a former ABA champion, everyone knows the ability as a boxer, obviously been a massive star within the UFC and built her profile globally as well.
"We're delighted to start the journey, delighted she chose Matchroom, going to be fighting all around the world and there are going to be some massive nights. We want to keep her nice and active."
McCann will make her debut on September 13 at Windsor Park against a yet to be named opponent.
A number of bouts for the Belfast show were announced on Friday, including a big co-main event between destructive Light-Middleweight sensation Ishamel Davis and Belfast's own Caoimhín Agyarko.. Caoimhin Agyarko (Image: Mark Robinson/Matchroom)
Agyarko stepped in for Davis back in April when injury scuppered his fight with Ryan Kelly – which the Irish fighter duly came through with a majority decision points win.
But Davis will be looking to get back to winning ways having featured last on successive Riyadh Season cards in London and in the Saudi capital respectively in which he went the distance against Josh Kelly last September at short notice, before falling to WBC ranked No.1 Serhii Bohachuk last December.
'The Mighty Celt' Tyrone McKenna is another popular homegrown addition to the card as the Welterweight, who in 2023 fell to a unanimous decision to Lewis Crocker – faces a familiar foe in Dylan Moran.
The duo collided last December in Waterford where McKenna celebrated an early stoppage, and he'll be looking to repeat his triumph over his fellow Southpaw when they lock horns once again.
Cruiserweight sensation Pat Brown, meanwhile, will fight inside a stadium setting for the first time when the popular Team GB Olympian travels across the Irish Sea from Manchester.
Brown – labelled by promoter Eddie Hearn as "one of the most exciting fighters in the world' – has enjoyed a sterling start to life in the professional ranks with the 6ft 6in powerhouse blasting his way to a flawless 3-0 start with a hat-trick of knockouts since he turned over last March.
And another rising, unbeaten British charge in Aaron Bowen joins Brown on the card as the 6-0 (4 KOs) Coventry Middleweight looks to continue his impressive ascent up the rankings.
'We expect a sell-out crowd for this historic night in Belfast and one of the best atmospheres you've ever witnessed in Irish boxing – you do not want to miss this,' said Matchroom Sport chairman, Eddie Hearn.
'It is the first boxing event at the stadium since the iconic Carl Frampton headlined here back in 2018, and the main event couldn't be more fitting. Two of the best Welterweights in the world battling it out for the IBF World Title – and now we have a blockbuster undercard too.'
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