THURROCK boxer John McDermott’s hopes of winning the English heavyweight boxing title ended in round nine of his Friday night clash with Tyson Fury at Brentwood Leisure Centre.
Fury put McDermott down three times to retain his unbeaten career record and the title. It was the first time McDermott had been down in his 32-fight career.
The fight was a rematch ordered by the British Board of Boxing Control. They first met for the title last year when referee Terry O'Connor was pilloried for awarding the ight to Fury and it was followed by a landmark decision to have three judges for all English titles.
Promoter Frank Maloney claimed that it was "the most controversial decision since Henry Cooper was outpointed by Joe Bugner in 1971".
There was little controversy in the second encounter. Fury boxed well in the opening round keeping McDermott at bay with a long jab and landed two telling right crosses.
Fury took a heavy right hook in the second and as the fight progressed through the fourth McDermott began to produce the better work behind his jab.
McDermott's best round was the sixth when he landed a heavy right hook and although the Mancunian responded in kind he looked exhausted and held on. He was warned by referee Dave Parris for doing so. Fury ended the round with blood seeping from a cut in the corner of his right eye.
Fury had a point deducted in the seventh for holding but in the eighth a decisive barrage dropped McDermott close to the end of the round.
McDermott was soon back on the canvas in the ninth from a short chopping right and in the next exchange went down again and staggered to his feet on the count of 10. All three judges had the contest 77-73 going into the ninth round.
McDermott must count as one of the unluckiest British big men. He has certainly had little go his way in the past two years.
He lost to Brixton heavyweight Danny Williams - once the victor over Mike Tyson - in Dagenham by a disputed majority decision. It was very close. So was the re-match 13 months ago over 12 rounds, yet Williams edged it on the judges' cards.