Things you didn't know about Ionut Baluta
Dennis McCann (14-0, 8KO) takes on potential banana skin Ionut Baluta (16-4, 5KO) in his 15th fight at Bethnal Green's iconic York Hall on August 18, live on TNT Sports.
Baluta is known to British boxers as “The Upsetter” for his pesky track record of defeating prospects while fighting out of the away corner. He did the exact same thing in his very last bout with unbeaten star Andrew Cain and gets the chance to do it again when he clashed with the Maidstone menace in the headlining match of Queensberry Promotions next show in the capital.
But who is this banana skin called Baluta? Find out all about him below:
Ionut Baluta
He was born on December 19, 1993, in Constanta, Romania.
His boxing nickname is “Il Capo”, which translates to “The Boss”. He is also known as “The Godfather”.
He boxed as an amateur between 2011-2015 and fought in international tournaments all over Europe, such as in Dublin, Ireland in 2011.
His professional debut took place in Bilbao, Spain, on March 19, 2016.
He has won many titles: WBO European bantamweight and super-bantamweight and WBC International and WBC International Silver super-bantamweight titles.
He trains out of The Rival Boxing Gym in Marbella, Spain with his trainer Albert. When he is in the UK, he trains with ex-professional boxer, Josh Burnham, in his Watford gym.
Baluta and his forthcoming foe, McCann, have sparred many rounds together already. Dennis claims they have sparred hundreds of rounds together.
The Romanian is very religious.
What have they said?
Dennis McCann: "He is more like my grandfather! This is a first of many main events and I have had the best camp I have ever had in my whole life. I am feeling very, very strong and I have really filled into this weight at super bantam. Friday night will be the best you have ever seen of Dennis McCann. Me and Baluta have done 100 rounds of sparring so he knows what I’m about, he knows. I am not going to say too much, but get your popcorn ready for Friday night because, believe me, it is going to be very explosive. I chose him and he didn’t choose me. He was moaning and groaning and didn’t want to take the fight because he knows what I’m about. You will see a big, strong Dennis McCann and I think this is where the KOs will start coming in. I am cut from a different cloth, I left school at 10 just to be a boxer and there isn’t anyone who trains as hard as me and there isn’t anyone willing to do what I will do. It is going to be a demolition job."
Ionut Baluta: "I am back in England again, my second home and on Friday I am looking forward to having a good fight. I am the boss, I am known as Il Capo, the Godfather, and on Friday he will find this out because I am in England again to win the belt. I am feeling very strong, I have had a very strong camp over in Marbella and I thank my trainer Albert for giving me a very good camp and I will show what I can do. I am not going to be knocked out, I did want the fight and I always said yes to it. On Friday you will see why I am called the Godfather and that doesn’t mean the grandfather. I respect Dennis and all his family, but sparring is one thing and fighting is another."
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