The lineup has been reduced by one fight for the final Riyadh Season show of the year.

Dennis McCann (16-0-1, 8 KOs) tested positive for a banned substance revealed in test results contracted through Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). The Ring No. 10 junior featherweight contender was removed from the Dec. 21 show at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

McCann was due to face countryman Peter McGrail (10-1, 6 KOs) in an all-British southpaw battle on the undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury Ring/unified heavyweight championship rematch. No update was provided on the exact substance for which McCann tested positive, or if a new opponent can be found in time for McCann to remain on the show.

"The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) has today informed all relevant parties that Dennis McCann has returned an adverse finding following an anti-doping test conducted in advance of his upcoming bout," confirmed Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority chairman and new owner of Ring Magazine and its accompanying website. "Mr. McCann’s scheduled fight next Saturday will no longer take place, as the relevant parties investigate the matter further.

"No further comment on this will be made at this time."

McCann and McGrail were both due to fight for the third time in 2024.

McGrail bounced back with two straight wins following a crushing fifth-round knockout of Ja'Rico Quinn last Dec. 16 in Glendale, Arizona. The 28-year-old impressed in a second-round knockout of Brad Foster on Sept. 28 in Sheffield, England.

What would have been a quick turnaround has now moved to standby status for the Liverpudlian.

All other undercard bouts remain intact for the DAZN Pay-Per-View event. Headlining the show, Ukraine's Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) attempts the third defense of The Ring heavyweight championship, and fourth overall defense of at least two sanctioning body titles.

Usyk—a former Ring/undisputed cruiserweight champion—dethroned Anthony Joshua in Sept. 2021 to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO belts. His repeat win over Joshua in their Aug. 2022 rematch filled The Ring championship vacancy left behind by Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) during one of his many faux retirements.

Fury's attempt to become a three-time Ring champ fell just short. The Ring No. 1 contender dropped a split decision to Usyk in their Fight of the Year entrant atop a May 18 Riyadh Season show. Usyk floored Fury in the ninth round which provided the margin of victory. Fury won 114-113 on one card, overruled by scores of 115-112 and 114-113 for Usyk to fully unify The Ring, WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles.

Usyk has since relinquished the IBF belt; all other hardware will be on the line for the rematch.

Meanwhile, McCann will have to face this music as his career momentarily comes to a halt.

The 23-year old was on an upward trajectory in 2024, which saw him avenge his lone career blemish. McCann was held to a draw by Ionut Baluta last August, but dominated the Romanian spoiler over twelve rounds in their July 27 rematch.

The feat came four months after he impressively defeated unbeaten countryman Brad Strand in a March 16 unanimous decision win in Birmingham, England.

An investigation is ongoing and McCann could face stiff disciplinary action from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), given their strict penalties for positive drug tests.