SUPER-BANTAMWEIGHT Peter McGrail picked up an important victory in the 10th fight of his professional career last night (April 27) in Liverpool against Marc Leach.
In February 2023, Matchroom Boxing eagerly acquired McGrail, a talented amateur athlete with a collection of multiple medals. Many experts and supporters confidently believe that McGrail’s career will swiftly advance, with high hopes for him to ultimately claim the title of a future world champion.
The hopes of the “Scouse Lomachenko” were momentarily halted when he encountered Detroit’s Ja’Rico O’Quinn in America last December, as part of the Jesse Rodriguez-Sunny Edwards undercard. Instead of a triumphant display for McGrail, the match turned into a horrifying experience as he was knocked out in the fifth round.
McGrail’s future came under scrutiny as he stepped into the spotlight at Liverpool’s Exhibition Centre for a crucial fight labeled as a “must-win”. Despite the daunting challenge, the 27-year-old remained composed and successfully accomplished his mission without ever being threatened with defeat.
So, where does McGrail go from here? Boxing News offers five potential opponents for his next fight.
Ja’Rico O’Quinn 17-1-1 (9)
McGrail has a contractual obligation to face the American once more, and given his strong desire for revenge, this rematch seems logical. However, McGrail faces a dilemma: should he patiently wait for an opportunity to settle the score with the 29-year-old, or should he let go of the idea of a rematch and move forward? O’Quinn was initially set to fight the Scouser in Liverpool last night, but he withdrew from the match in early April due to personal family issues. Could he be McGrail’s next opponent?
Dennis McCann 15-0-1 (8)
After witnessing his fighter’s triumphant return in a British title eliminator, McGrail’s promoter Eddie Hearn couldn’t stop talking about the British super-bantamweight champion. McCann, an experienced professional with his own aspirations of reaching the pinnacle, may have a shot at realizing his dreams. Considering the current collaboration between Riyadh Season, Hearn, and Frank Warren, the possibility seems realistic. Such a matchup would serve as a crucial examination for both individuals.
TJ Doheny 25-4 (19)
Doheny brings extensive experience from his fights in Australia, Thailand, America, and Japan. Hearn’s sales pitch would highlight Doheny’s impressive background as a former IBF super-bantamweight world champion. Additionally, Doheny has faced opponents like Ryosuke Iwasa, Daniel Roman, Michael Conlan, and Sam Goodman. A victory against the 37-year-old Doheny would greatly enhance McGrail’s resume.
Ionut Baluta 16-4-1 (3)
Baluta, weighing in at 122lbs, is undoubtedly the most resilient man in Romania. After starting his career in Spain, he decided to make the UK his fighting ground, participating in seven out of his last eight fights in this country. McCann, Doheny, Brad Foster, and Andrew Cain are all well aware of the challenges he presents. Only Michael Conlan and Liam Davies have been successful in overcoming him. If McGrail were to handle Baluta flawlessly, it would undoubtedly make a significant statement.
Erik Robles 15-2 (9)
Last summer in an exhilarating match, the determined and industrious Mexican triumphed over Lee McGregor in Edinburgh. This victory granted Robles the IBO championship at 122lbs. Unfortunately, just recently, his title was snatched away by the powerful and globally recognized Liam Davies. McGrail would probably decipher Robles’ tactics swiftly, but could he successfully evade him for 10 or 12 rounds?
