Eddie Hearn makes X-rated admission after Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury undercard fight cancelled

Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn has described Peter McGrail’s fight against Dennis McCann being cancelled as a 'f*****g disaster'. McGrail had been due to face McCann on the undercard of Tyson Fury's huge heavyweight showdown against Oleksandr Usyk at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

However, the fight was called off on Friday after it emerged that McCann had provided an adverse analytical finding in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test. The substance discovered in McCann’s sample and the date it was given have not been revealed. He will now face a full investigation.

The matter is also likely to be referred to the British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping, and McCann will be handed a temporary suspension once an investigation begins.

READ MORE: Frankie Stringer opens up on illness battle just hours before Tatenda Mangombe victory

READ MORE: Nick Ball next world title defence confirmed as Frank Warren delivers on Liverpool promise

Reacting to the news, Hearn told IFLTV: “I got the email, and I couldn’t believe it, to be honest with you, because you know how I have spoken about that fight; I just love that fight so much.

“Let the kid go through the process because we have been here before; as always, everyone will presume he is 100% guilty because that is what happens in this situation.

“Let him do his thing. Let him go through the procedure. We have been there, and I hope he has got the teeth for it because it is horrible and it is going to be a horrible period in his life.

“If he is innocent, then I am sure he will come through the other side. I always say this: I don’t necessarily think this is a time for complete judgement until a procedure is gone through.

“If you deliberately cheat in the sport of boxing, then you should never be allowed to fight again. If you are innocent, then let that play out, and I hope that every fighter is innocent; the reality is that not everyone is.”

READ MORE: Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk undercard latest after Peter McGrail fight called off

READ MORE: Natasha Jonas sets up huge British showdown against Lauren Price after outclassing Ivana Habazin

Before he continued: “As I always say, sometimes failed drugs tests are a blessing because that is the reason it is in place, to find out if someone has illegal substances in their body.

“And then the fight has been stopped before that fight has taken place. And obviously at the same time, it is a f*****g disaster because one, everyone is looking forward to the fight, and two, it doesn't look good for the sport of boxing.

“So let Dennis go through his procedure. He’s not my fighter and not my issue, but give him the chance to go through the procedure, and we will see what happens.”

McGrail boarded his flight to Saudi with his team as planned on Saturday afternoon, and although work is underway to secure a last-minute replacement, Frank Warren has admitted that it might be difficult to find the Everton Red Triangle man someone to face this weekend.

“They are working on it, but it is difficult,” he told talkSPORT. “Guys have got to make weight and so forth, and it is short notice. But obviously he’s trained very hard; try and keep him on the card and get him a fight.”