Molly McCann: A New Beginning

Molly McCann: A New Beginning

At 35, Molly McCann makes her new beginning this weekend in Belfast. A brand new start in a brand new sport. Well, kind of. It is, in many ways, a return to her roots. A former ABA champion who left boxing behind and found success in Mixed Martial Arts. McCann got a title in Cage Warriors and was a ranked flyweight in the UFC. McCann is now chasing glory and unfinished business in boxing.

The MMA career ended on two straight defeats, and only one win in her last five fights in the UFC. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. McCann never had it easy during her UFC tenure. Her success was hard-earned. But that first-round defeat to Alexia Thainara in March at the O2 Arena in London brought that part of her life to a close. The retirement call was no surprise. In truth, neither was her decision to make that return to boxing.

The hook-up with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom is a natural fit. The new chapter begins this Saturday night at Windsor Park, Belfast. A tough reintroduction to her former world.

Kate Radomska will welcome McCann back to boxing. Radomska will come to fight. She has pushed the likes of Maiseyrose Courtney and Nicola Hopewell. Both Courtney and Hopewell had hard nights against Radomska. McCann could have picked a far safer opponent. But that has never been her way. Radomska will likely tell us plenty about what this new chapter will have in store, and crucially, how far it can go. Despite the long, favourable betting odds, there is no guarantee that McCann will even win on her professional debut. Nobody is quite sure what we are going to see. Expectations and reality can be two completely different things.

McCann is 1/33 to get her professional career up and running with a victory. McCann should win, but Radomska can be a hard night’s work; however, her resume of 4-7 probably highlights her abilities and certain limitations. After winning her first three fights, Radomska has only won one of her subsequent eight fights. A form line that doesn’t bode well for improving her record on Saturday night. But if the Radomska who pushed Courtney and Hopewell so hard shows up, it might be a little more competitive than those long odds might suggest.

Molly McCann has switched sports, still retaining her old ambition and fire. She looks reborn in her new environment. There are obvious aspirations of fighting again in that fighting city of Liverpool that she proudly calls home. But there are also dreams of fighting for and winning a world title. The odds might be against McCann doing that, but in truth, they always have been. A fighter who always seems to be swimming against the tide somewhat. But equally, one who will give everything in pursuit of a dream. Sometimes, that’s all you can ask. And sometimes that can be the difference.