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It was a case of repeat or revenge since last year’s controversial points decision in favour of the giant Manchester heavyweight Tyson Fury, local lad John Mcdermott was hoping to avenge a loss that he and many in the fight game felt belonged rightfully to himself in a controversy that had shades of Henry Cooper -Joe Bugner from 1971.
Entering the ring Mcdermott was hyped up just a little as he hammed it up to the crowd, bent on destruction it seemed more than anything, while Fury remained calm and collected and awaiting the opening bell.
In my preview you will have read that I favored Mcdermott to win and do so far more easily than the first meeting.
I could not have been more wrong and if Fury a fighter who looked green a little at times, then he did prove otherwise, as he certainly did turn the form book on it’s head, ripped it up and chucked the aforementioned in the waste paper basket!
In the opener Fury looked like a changed man from there first meeting, as he found his range and the target with nice swift combination’s behind the left jab, before connecting with some decent right hands over the top, Mcdermott could only take what was coming his way and I found it rather surprising considering that going into this Fury had hardly sparred much as he showed plenty of the aforementioned.
Mcdermott pressured as Fury circled his much shorter opponent, one right that Mcdermott did land spurred Fury into action as he cleverly turned John before unloading with a flurry, but Mcdermott a durable type brushed off any of the effects, later on a little showboating from Fury in the form of an half decent Ali shuffle almost cost him his footing a few seconds later as he almost tripped over more off balance than anything.
Mcdermott kept plodding in trying to get inside the long reach of Fury, however if Fury was impersonating Ali doing the shuffle than Mcdermott was Tyson’s Frazier, and what with the heat it could have been Manila all over again!
Mcdermott again caught Fury with a solid right, but it was yet again Fury who kept Mcdermott on the end of the jab, Fury was almost using it like a tape measure via a battering ram naturally, has he boxed finding his range, Mcdermott could’nt for some reason find his or Tyson.
In the third Fury started to fight more as he dug in close, electing to box when he decided to stand off, just keeping in reach of his subject, even at one time holding the rope and jabbing ala Muhammad Ali v Alfredo Evangelista back in 1977, however a short burst of shots seemed to hurt Mcdermott just before the bell as he fell into the ropes, a right uppercut proving the decisive punch in that last little combination.
Fury in the fourth began to stand his ground and get in the trenches, a battle of the Somme was being fought as both soldiered in close and banged away, Fury noticeably was tiring more so in this round and things did get rather a bit messy as both continuously clinched.
Sitting there at ringside was British heavyweight champion Derek Chisora, taking in his next possible challenger, though my good friend and corner man Lennie Lee reckons Chisora’s next assignment should be against Commonwealth champ Sam Sexton in a rematch of there thriller from 2007! watch out for both as one will surely happen soon, a interview I did with Len on these pages coming real soon my friends!
Back to the fight, and Fury {19st 4lbs} continued to dominate with good solid combination’s, Mcdermott seemed to be having problems getting going and for the best part of the first four rounds Fury was taking a considerable lead, though it seemed he started to breathe a little from the second onwards his work proved the fresher of the two.
However it was in the sixth that Mcdermott {18st 2lbs} found his way back into the contest, Frank Maloney one of the old school, and the only promoter I’ve ever seen who stands by the ring like an Army officer giving his troop his orders was there taking every punch his man was, even ducking some and then between the ropes during one particular interval between rounds, it resembled something out of a Rocky film or one of those much older black and white films from the forties or earlier when the promoter is telling his charge ‘now listen real good kid’ Hollywood it might not have been, but we were in Brentwood!
Mcdermott seemingly was fighting on memory at times, but though outweighed by a good couple of stone it was showing as Mcdermott was just plodding forwards though landing it seemed like Fury was not being troubled.
It was at the start of the sixth corner man Jim Mcdonell slapped his charge Mcdermott on the money {chin} and tried to instill some much needed enthusiasm into his man, it seemed to work as Mcdermott came to life, a big right slammed into Fury’s chin, but things became messy, even some fans booed which I felt was wrong, obviously just fans and not connoisseurs of boxing.
Fury was looking tired even more so, gum shield knocked out, Tyson found himself backed to the ropes as the Essex man threw himself forwards, getting into a clinch or four ref Parris had to part the two for persistent holding and gave Fury a ticking off, when the two did part though it was Mcdermott who drew first blood, a short double left hook inside opening a cut over Fury’s right eye that coursed down the side of his handsome countenance, distress signals seemed to show a little on the gigantic northener’s face but despite the cut he battled through to the bell.
Round seven saw Mcdermott try a little more as he seemed a little like a bull to a red rag, the red rag being the aforementioned laceration on his opposing protagonist, as he as he started to throw more punches coming forwards, though tired his resistance and determination were dogged, just like the guy who he facially resembles a little Don Cockell from the 1950’s who fought, the great Rocky Marciano for the World’s title back in 1955, and in true British bulldog spirit kept coming, Fury himself grunted as he let go with a flurry of leather, and with both tired Fury seemed to hold some more and ref Parris took off a point for his only crime, which the pro Mcdermott crowd cheered.
In the eighth both locked horns to begin with, soon after Fury got on his bike, as Mcdermott dug in as Fury missed with a wild uppercut that would have knocked out the guy in the fourth row had it landed, lucky I was ringside!
Both kept in close, and obviously tired it was a case of who wanted it more, and there it was in that square of all squares where titles are won and lost, where men come of age, it was here that Tyson a twenty one year old finally did so, a short flurry dredged up from his fighting soul followed by a short right hand to Mcdermott’s chin deposited the Essex man to the floor in his own corner towards the end of the round, the legitimacy of the punch was questionable as it was possibly more exhaustion than anything that paid a contributing factor in the actual knockdown, however Mcdermott showed the fighting heart of a champion as he got up at ‘six’ with ref Parris holding his gloved fists, the bell rang, was this another twist in the tale of the Fury-Mcdermott saga?
The ninth saw Mcdermott bravely get stuck in, as if to take away the psychological edge off of Tyson’s previous success, however there was no questioning each man’s desire, as both came in landing big rights to each other’s chins, Fury’s punch had more telling power and Mcdermott paid a second visit to the canvas as he rolled on to his back, battling to get to his haunches Mcdermott again got to his feet at ‘six’ where third man Parris gave him a standing eight before allowing him to continue, unbelievably showing a true grit and determination of any fighter I’ve seen Mcdermott ploughed forwards into his tormentor even throwing caution to the wind, however the likes of John Mcdermott don’t know when there beat and going beyond the call of duty he got involved, however a short right from Fury sent John down a third time, sitting there taking the count Mcdermott arose at nine and has he did tottered unsteadily on tired legs, prompting Parris to wave it over at the 1:08 second mark as Fury celebrated, Fury had shut up the critics it seemed but still there remain questions about Fury’s stamina.
Fury embraced his father, former pro Gypsy John Mcdermott as both father and son celebrated, it was an emotional Fury at the post fight interview who despite complaining of the seering heat, it was this heat that could’nt dry the tears in the giant’s eyes as he paid tribute to his father and also dedicating the belt to his father who was as proud as punch of his sibling.
Mcdermott it seems will be remembered sadly as the nearly man of the heavyweight division of the last couple of years, with out a doubt he beat Danny Williams and was jobbed first time around, and then the heartbreak of the first fight with Fury, even Stevie Wonder would have given it to Mcdermott that night last September, in essence Mcdermott was more than just an English champion he was an uncrowned one unofficially! {if that makes any sense}
Has Fury’s hand was raised Derek Chisora left the building to escape any post fight banter, or comments, but I was keeping an eye on Chisora through out the fight and I noticed a concerned look on his face, more so when Fury was on top of Mcdermott, as Chisora left for a safer passage it seemed the Danny Williams that Mcdermott got turned back by in two unsuccessful attempts was clearly not the man from those nights that Chisora took the title from at Upton Park last month, a new face has come onto the heavyweight championship scene domestically, though many are still doubting Tyson’s true championship credentials if he were to eventually square off with the brash Chisora, I sure ain’t one of them.
And one who would echo my very thoughts was at ringside afterwards almost causing a scene of his own, it was Fury senior long after Tyson had gone to get the wash and brush up treatment, Gypsy John was at ringside shouting aloud ‘who did Chisora beat? Danny Williams was past his best, I’d fight Derek Chisora, his running from my boy I’ll fight him myself” before further adding “Get behind your boxers more than your footballers, Chisora won’t fight my boy” I did butt in myself as I exclaimed “here, here!” the house was listening, no it weren’t the house of commons, though Gypsy John ranted like an M.P would as he spoke up for his son and his right about one thing and the way the England football team have disappointed us, maybe Gypsy John has a valid point, well I ain’t gonna argue with him am I?, for the record Chisora bought his Lonsdale belt earlier to the ringside in a silver case that the fictional character of the much loved comedy series ‘only fools and horses’ ‘Del boy’ would have been proud of surely, though this was no case of knocked off watches, I wonder though is time running out for the real life ‘Del boy’ if Tyson get’s his shot that is?
And talking earlier of Hollywood, Brentwood and the record, or has the lyrics go to the ‘Only fools and Horses’ theme it could be more a matter of in your mush Del boy, than Shepherd’s Bush mush!
Or in the words of Boycie, ‘evening Del boy’ or could that be good night Derek?
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Also featured on the undercard was a exciting tussle between Crawley lightweight prospect Ben Jones and Welshman Lee Selby over six rounds.
Selby bearing a slight resemblance to former British super featherweight king of the 1980’s, the late Najib Daho, boxed nicely in the opener as he got on the move scoring with nice combination’s on the advancing Jones, however in the second both got involved in some good give and take sessions, both sported bloody noses from the aforementioned exchanges.
In the third Jones started off quickly and begun to find the target as Selby started to look tired as the Crawley man continued to pressure the Welshman, as he did in the next stanza, the fourth.
In between rounds former decent pro and manager Chris Sanigar gave Selby a wake up call in the form of a slap, it was one that would have bought back memories to that of the night’s Sky commentator Johnny Nelson when Brendan Ingle did a similar thing when Nelson was performing below par against one Arthur ‘stormy’ Weathers back in 1990, now if only he’d done that several months earlier that year in Nelson’s no show against the then W.B.C cruiser king Carlos Deleon!
Selby seemed to react to the warning administered by his charge and boxed better over the next couple of rounds, but Jones continuously pressured and at the bell it was Selby who was awarded a decision that I felt Jones had done more than enough to have taken, as referee Jeff Hinds scored it 59-57, I had it a similar margin but in the adjudged losers favor, no one in the crowd seemed to share in my disbelief, maybe I’m a lousy judge {please don’t read my preview to the main event}
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Up at heavy, Olympic bronze medalist David Price kept on track with a easy one round demolition job of flabby and rather rotund looking Paval Polokovic who tipped the scales at 17st 10lbs, five pounds heavier than the much taller better built Price, whom looked in absolutely fabulous condition.
Both took it easy to begin with, but Price once he did get started was looking at the obvious target, the flabby midsection of the bull necked but inept Paval Polokovic, shortly after wards Price switched the attack to the head, a big left hook over the top sent the visitor to the canvas for a count, though despite beating the count Polokovic was not even in the argument, though he gamely tried to make a fight of it, he attacked Price but came unstuck again as a flurry of hard short shots inside reintroduced Polokovic to the canvas, on arising yet again he seemed to nod his head almost in surrender, but when ref Richie Davies waved it over, it was then he seemed to remonstrate a little, as Price chalked up another win at 1:42 of the opener.
For the record at the time of the stoppage Polokovic’s purse was withheld, it seemed fitting enough what with the mugging I had just witnessed in the minute and forty odd seconds of boxing!
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Another heavyweight hope Tom Dallas who sported a slight growth of beard looked in good shape at 16st 10lbs, and looked a million dollars in the opening couple of rounds against that warhorse of warhorse’s Daniel Peret the rotund but very durable Norwegian who has given many a heavy from these shores an interesting nights work.
Dallas threw some lovely fast combination’s as he used a nice solid left jab before whipping in right hands, on the bull like Peret, Dallas even managing to hurt the Norwegian with a big right hand as he almost sagged into the ropes as he started to mix his punches to both head and then body effectively, another big right later on in the opener had Peret all at sea and almost on the next boat home, but that wily old fox from way of Norway found a way to the bell.
In the second Peret did try but was finding it an almost impossible task to catch the much taller leaner Dallas with anything of any real note, over the rest of the duration of the bout things became a little tedious in all fairness as Dallas and Peret started to maul and hold and despite some nice boxing in the early rounds, things did become a little ragged and Peret as he ussually doe’s made it to the final gong but went down a points loser by 60-54.
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Newly crowned Southern Area champ Larry Olubamiwo didn’t hang around himself in his English title eliminator with Dave Ferguson, this match naturally was for the the winner of Fury-Mcdermott, strangely enough the latter match up was also an eliminator for the British title held by the flash, cocky Derek Chisora, more on him later, take your pick as to who fight’s who and when, now that’s anyones guess?
Larry a big puncher whom promoter Frank Maloney has likened to the legendary ko artist Earnie Shavers {praise indeed} for his power came out looking to fight his fight and pressure the taller bald headed Ferguson who threw some wild right hands that missed by the proverbial mile or ten, Larry a whopping 18st 10lbs looked in good shape and even more so that bit more polished with his shots, though he does keep that chin a little too high when attacking, in the past as I did mention in my preview of the show, Larry does ‘wing em’ for my liking and doe’s look just a tad too crude, however the crudeness was’nt as evident this time around and has he pressured the tall geordie Larry caught Ferguson with a series big overhand right’s that felled Dave for full count as he as good as sat out the count until getting up, but it was too late as the ref counted ‘ten’ although Ferguson had the misfortune of getting counted out at just 1:52 of the first round, one would feel if he had gotten up and continued such misfortune would have been metered out more so by the Hackney based Olubamiwo.
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Down at fly Lewis Pettitt looked an easy winner over veteran centurian Delroy Spencer who was easily outfought and out thought over four rounds.
Pettitt got in close to begin with and made Delroy hold before backing up the veteran with a good flurry of leather.
In the second things livened up more so as both got involved in some good exchanges, but it was Pettitt who was that bit more accurate and seemed better in every department and was the rightful winner of a clear easy 40-36.
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The show’s opener proved a fairly decent encounter as Crayford’s Menay Edwards took on Carl Wild from Sheffield over six rounds at super middle.
To begin with funnily enough both fighters were sent to different corners after the announcements before the opening bell, it’s okay guy’s there was no infringement by either protagonist, both were in the wrong corners of the ring apparently, but strangely enough each and every respective bout from there on, there was no changing of the corner let alone the guard, well not until the main event that is!!!!
Edwards mixed in a good array of shots to start with as he backed Wild to the ropes, a mixture of uppercuts and hooks thrown in quick bursts had the Sheffield man covering, before Wild tried with some hooks of his own, but for the best part it was Edwards who was the busier throwing an assortment of punches on the inside, every now and then allowing Wild to come forward as he countered with hooks and a stiff left jab, Wild did now and again throw a burst but Edwards was that far more imaginative and much, much busier throughout the eighteen minutes of pugilism and deservedly took an well earned points verdict on ref Jeff Hinds card of
At the bell Edwards wore a fake crown on his head, eerie you may ask as Frank Maloney’s first World champion was also from Crayford, don’t worry guy’s I think it’s safe to say it’s there that the similarities end, but hey you never know….watch this space!
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Also at super middle, Tony Hills took on Philip Townley, looking confident throughout Hills from Southampton used a decent southpaw jab as he took control from the center ring as Townley soaked everything coming his way.
Straight lefts were banged in also for good measure behind the left jab that hit home like a form of Chinese water torture as each jab thudded in with accuracy, before switching more so in the second round with swift southpaw rights to Philip’s midsection.
One arcing southpaw right had Townley over, but he was up straight away and more off balance than anything as ref Hinds wiped his gloves and ruled a slip, however later on Hills begun to back up Townley with accurate shots as the latter threw the odd shot back mostly hitting thin air, each round replicitated the previous one as Hills was far too gifted for Townley who was in survival mode for the best part of the fight although he did attack briefly in the final session, it was rather short lived as he resumed the role of surivor as he moved around as Hills punctuated his dominance as he had done from the start.
Hills could be one to look out for, time will tell naturally!
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Also meeting up before and after with Maloney’s behind the scenes team it really was a pleasure to meet James J Russell and Andy Scott, myself and Russell started trying to out do each other with boxing questions, the final score was a resounding one in favour of…….hey buy my book when it comes out and if you enjoyed this little trip down to Brentwood with yours truly, you’ll love the book oh yeah and it’s there that you’ll find out the score and I’m not talking about the one between England and West Germany though it’s nearer to that mathematically.
Michael Angelo Serra
