McCann, who announced her retirement from MMA at UFC London earlier this year, was unveiled as Matchroom Boxing’s latest new signing, with Eddie Hearn setting the stage for the latest exciting chapter in McCann’s athletic career.
“This is all about Molly McCann, the official announcement that boxing is next,” said Hearn during a live-streamed edition of Matchroom’s Small Talk.
“She’s officially signed with Matchroom boxing. Molly McCann will compete now as a boxer. About time, I’d like to say, as well!
“Former ABA champion, everyone knows the ability as a boxer. Obviously been a massive star within the UFC, built a profile globally, as well, and we’re delighted to start the journey with her.
“(I’m) Delighted she’s chosen to sign with Matchroom, going to be fighting her all around the world. And there’s going to be some massive nights, you know, had the pleasure of watching a cageside, or whatever you call it, in the UFC, where the atmosphere, the energy, the fan base of this woman is incredible. A great person, great fighter, and now putting the gloves on for real. The boxing journey is about to begin.”
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For McCann, the move to boxing is a return to her primary sport after she initially was forced away from a promising boxing career to take up MMA due to the lack of opportunities for female boxers in her weight class at the time.
“This was always the dream,” explained McCann.
“As everyone knows, I boxed before. My weight didn’t get added to the Olympic Games. So the only other option was MMA, and MMA has given me a phenomenal life, one that boxing could never give me, but my love was always in the squared circle, so I cannot wait to fight.
“I can’t wait to just show everyone the pedigree of boxing that I’ve got. People would probably just think I’m going to run in and just try and take chins off, which is correct, that is what I’m going to do! But in an educated manner.
“I think I work so hard on building the brand in MMA and changing stereotypes, and just really working hard on on that. And now it’s like women’s boxing’s at like a tipping point. It’s quite a pivotal moment right now in the sport. And I think there was only one place I was coming. There was offers from everywhere. But I did send Eddie a little message, and I said, ‘It’s better the devil you know actually, than the devil you don’t know!’
“There’s no other place I’d rather be. This is the premier show for me. I’ve known everyone for quite a long time, and I’ve got a good relationship with Eddie, and I’ve always been at the shows for the last few years, causing trouble. So now we get to, get to bring all the Scousers with me, all the Irish fans, and have a go.”
Hearn stated that his partnership with McCann is an exciting one that he thinks could result in “Meatball” capturing a women’s boxing world title in as little as 12 months. But, as he explained, the first phase of that plan is to simply get McCann into the ring regularly to get her fully attuned to life in the pro boxing ranks. Then, after a handful of fights, she’ll be in a position to make her way towards title contention.
“What’s important to know is, is that she really is a boxer first,” continued Hearn.
“She has a phenomenal amateur pedigree. She’s won championships. You see a lot of fighters that try and switch from UFC to boxing, because they’ve already built their brand, but with all due respect, they’re not actually elite at the discipline. There’s no point naming names, but I’m yet to see a UFC fighter turn to boxing that actually has the credentials and the capability to be a world champion, a proper world champion.
“We’re talking about Molly starting around the bantamweight division, something like that. There’s some really good fighters there. And it’s really interesting. You know, I was talking to Molly and Graham, her manager, as well, about the process, and the process is, she is a professional fight novice at the moment. She’s not a boxing novice. She’s got great pedigree, but the movement of that career is going to be really interesting, and it is a skill and it is an art.
“The most important thing is to be active. The most important is to keep building her boxing brand now, and she has the ability, of course, to be a huge star, because she’s already one. But also, what was appealing about Molly is the draw that she is in so many of our markets. People know Molly McCann, of course, in the UK and Liverpool, but also all throughout America, Australia, the Middle East. And it’s really interesting. It’s the first time I’ve ever really worked with a fighter who is kind of a superstar before they’ve even had a fight.
“I think we’re looking at somewhere between six and seven fights in year one, and then, after that, we’re pretty much ready to go. You’re going to see her fighting for a world championship within 12 months, I think.
“But we just need that little bit of ring time. And I can’t wait. We all know Molly’s absolutely nuts, and she’s such a wonderful personality. Everyone loves her. She makes everybody smile, and she can fight, and she’s entertaining, in and out of the ring, and she’ll give it 110 percent and I truly believe she’ll be world champion.”
