Peter McGrail is set to face a new opponent on June 21 following the withdrawal of Shabaz Masoud.
The initial bout between the two 29-year-olds was scheduled to take place at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham. However, their promoters, Matchroom, announced earlier today that the fight, which was expected to feature the IBO super-bantamweight title, has been cancelled.
In a post on social media platform X, Matchroom stated: `Shabaz Masoud has sustained an injury in training and his fight on June 21 against Peter McGrail has been cancelled. We wish Shabaz a speedy recovery.`
Matchroom confirmed that McGrail, holding a record of 11 wins and 1 loss (6 KOs), will now step into the ring against Ionut Baluta (17-5-1, 3 KOs). Baluta is a familiar presence in Britain, having competed there nine times previously. His win-loss record in the UK stands at 4-4, with one technical draw against Dennis McCann. Although the Spanish-based Romanian lost the subsequent rematch to McCann, he boasts notable victories over Brad Foster and Andrew Cain. Baluta`s high-energy, aggressive style presents a distinct challenge compared to the more tactical `chess match` that was anticipated against Masoud.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist and 2020 Olympian has demonstrated a strong recovery since his unexpected defeat to Ja’Rico O’Quinn in Arizona in 2023. Victories against Marc Leach, Brad Foster, and Rhys Edwards last December have significantly enhanced the Liverpudlian`s standing as he seeks to make his mark on the global stage, climbing to #6 in the WBA`s super-bantamweight rankings.
The McGrail vs. Baluta contest is featured on the undercard, with Galal Yafai`s defense of his WBC Interim flyweight title against Francisco Rodriguez headlining the event.
