Fury too hot for Big John

Sky Sports28th June, 2010

Tyson Fury settled his score with John McDermott as he outlasted his rival in an exhausting English heavyweight title fight in Essex.

Fury won their first battle nine months ago with a farcical referee's decision, but there was no doubt this time around as he floored his opponent three times before referee Dave Parris waved off the fight in the ninth round.

The Mancunian started off brightly behind the jab, even displaying his own comic version of the 'Ali shuffle' in the opening round.

McDermott could not get into any rhythm as his opponent dominated the first four rounds and there looked only one winner, but things changed at the end of the fifth as Fury looked weary heading back to his corner.

A cut above his right eye caused by a clash of heads seemed to bother him and his tank looked empty as McDermott began to grow into the fight as the heat inside the Brentwood Centre took its toll.

Fury was docked a point for holding and the fact he came in a stone heavier than any fight previously looked to be backfiring as he struggled for breath, although in fairness he was still unloading plenty of punches.

The 21-year-old dug deep, though, despite his obvious fatigue, and the pressure of a smart combination sent McDermott to the floor right at the end of the eighth.

A knockdown at the start of the ninth was definitely down to Fury's punching rather than tiredness, and although McDermott got up he looked leggy and another right soon put him down again.

'Big John' just about got up to his feet but he was spent and referee Parris had no option but to save him from any further punishment.

"I'm really happy - the first four rounds I was behind the jab," Fury told Sky Sports. "But the heat in here was very, very hot and I was knackered. I was very tired and my legs were very tired.

"But there's something inside me that thought I'm not quitting here - and I knew I had the power to knock him out. Fair play to John McDermott for fighting me again but I knew I could do it.

"There's a lot of people who thought I'd lose this fight, that I've only had 10 fights, and I'm only young, but I knew I could do it. Any heavyweight out there I know I can beat them."