PRECOCIOUS YOUNGSTER Dennis McCann has already warmed the hearts of the watching public with his ‘cheeky chappie’ persona, while at the same time crushing the spirit of the 14 professional opponents put in front him so far.

The 22-year-old – who could easily be mistaken for being a few years younger – exploded onto the scene in spectacular fashion back in May 2019 on a world title promotion staged at Stevenage Football Club.

Promoter Frank Warren knew he was onto a winner with the spiteful then bantamweight and afforded him a live TV slot on the card, which is a rarity for young pros on debut. Mr Warren, of course, guided the career of Naseem Hamed and the likeness in styles between the Menace and the Prince is there for all to see.

McCann more than justified his billing by slaying his Polish opponent Kamil Jaworek after just over 100 seconds. The boxing world was put on notice that this new kid on the block means business.

Enter the name Dennis McCann across any social media platform and the responses are unequivocal. ‘Future world champion’ is the stock reply.

With this marauding talent from Maidstone in Kent it will be a thrilling journey because it is difficult to imagine him not being in exciting fights, where he gets to show off his extravagant array of fistic moves.

Take what many of us would describe as a particularly unorthodox ‘corkscrew uppercut’, where McCann bends himself down to waist height and unleashes a north-facing right- hander with a clockwise rotation. McCann himself will correct this terminology and insist the shot is called a ‘screwshot backhand’.

His trainer, Alan Smith, admits that what his charge possesses cannot be taught and his job is simply to harness what is an exceptional ability.

The public are already very much on his side after just 14 fights because McCann is a little charmer with no edge to him. He knows he is good, but he possesses a wit and humility that sees people take to him.

As spiteful as he is inside the ring, he is as warm, humble and humorous while sitting on the ring apron carrying out post-fight media.

McCann is the real deal, a genuine elite Blue Chip prospect with the credentials to match the plaudits. He won 50 out of 54 amateur contests, with 16 of his wins coming via stoppage, which is almost unheard of at such a low weight.

A nine-times national champion, McCann was also a double British champion, European bronze medallist, two-times junior ABA winner, twice Youth ABA champion and three times NABC champion.

In his 12th professional fight in March he won the vacant WBO Youth world title by defeating Charles Tondo via a unanimous decision over eight rounds before, in July, adding the WBC International Silver featherweight title to his collection with an eighth round stoppage of James Beech jr.

In November McCann made it a title treble by defeating Joe Ham for the Commonwealth super bantamweight championship, stopping the experienced Scot in the eighth round in London.

McCann would become British champion beating stablemate Brad Strand over 12 rounds at Super Bantamweight.