McCann won seven of her 14 bouts in the UFC Former UFC star Molly McCann says she intends to "win a world title within eight fights" after signing with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing. Liverpool's McCannretired from MMA in Marchfollowing defeat by Alexia Thainara at UFC London. The 35-year-old won 14 of her 22 fights across a 10-year-career and is one of the most successful and high-profile women's fighters in British MMA history. McCann says it "was always the dream" to return to boxing after competing in the sport at amateur level before her MMA career. "I boxed before. My weight didn't get added to the Olympics so the only other option was MMA," said McCann. "MMA has given me a phenomenal life, one that boxing could never give me. "I can't wait to fight and show everyone the pedigree of boxing I've got. People probably think I am going to run in and try and take chins off. Which is correct, but in an educated manner. "The ultimate goal is to be world champion and not for some phoney promotion. I've got to earn my stripes like everyone else. [I want] a world title within eight fights." This video can not be played 'MMA gave me the courage to be who I am' McCann says she had lots of lucrative offers from different promotions but opted for Matchroom because this is a "pivotal moment" in women's boxing. During her time in the UFC, McCann won seven of her 14 bouts with her highlights including two spinning elbow knockouts in 2022. She exited the sport having won six of her bouts by knockout and claiming three performance-of-the-night bonuses, the most in UFC flyweight history. Matchroom's promotor Hearn says he "truly believes" McCann "will be a world champion" in boxing. "What's important to know, she really is a boxer first. You see a lot of fighters try switch from UFC to boxing because they've already built their brand but they're not actually elite at the discipline," said Hearn. "It used to be a lot easier to win a world title in women's boxing, now it's a lot harder. We're talking about Molly starting around the bantamweight level, there's some really good fighters there. "She's not a novice, because she has amateur pedigree. The most important thing is to stay active." A date and opponent for McCann's first fight under Matchroom is yet to be announced.
Former UFC star McCann announces boxing switch
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"Molly McCann Transitions from MMA to Boxing with Ambitions for World Title"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Molly McCann, the former UFC star, has officially announced her transition to boxing after signing with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing. The 35-year-old Liverpool native, who had a successful MMA career with a record of 14 wins and 8 losses, aims to achieve a world title within her first eight fights in the boxing arena. McCann, who retired from MMA in March following a defeat at UFC London, has expressed her long-standing desire to return to boxing, a sport she initially pursued at the amateur level. She candidly reflected on her journey, noting that while MMA afforded her opportunities that boxing had not, her passion for the sport has remained strong. McCann emphasized her intention to showcase her boxing skills and approach her fights with a strategic mindset, rather than relying solely on her power. Her ambition is clear: she seeks to earn respect in the boxing community and believes she can achieve her goal of becoming a world champion through hard work and dedication.
In her time with the UFC, McCann was known for her exciting fighting style, securing seven victories, including notable knockout performances that earned her several performance-of-the-night bonuses. Hearn, the promoter of Matchroom Boxing, is confident in McCann's potential to succeed in her new endeavor. He highlighted that McCann is not just a fighter transitioning from MMA to boxing; she possesses a solid boxing background and is primarily a boxer at heart. Hearn acknowledges that the landscape of women's boxing has become increasingly competitive, and while McCann will start her career at the bantamweight level, she has the necessary experience to navigate the challenges ahead. As of now, the details regarding her debut fight, including the date and opponent, have yet to be announced, but the boxing community is eager to witness her next steps in this new chapter of her athletic career.
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