Fuury Edges McDermott, O'Connor's Score Way Off

Boxing Scene Oil Smith12th September, 2009

The hype built up over the weeks as British Heavyweight up and comer Tyson Fury told everyone who would listen that he is the future of Heavyweight boxing. The Brentwood Centre, Essex would be the venue that Fury's first real test would take place. Having won all his seven bouts by knockout and boxing only 16 rounds in his career, Fury kept to form in the pre-fight build up, agitating both opponent and opposing promoter. The far more experienced McDermott looked to defend his English title in his home town. Taking umbrage to insults hurled his way, this wouldn't just be a mandatory defense, it was personal.

Both men started slow in the first round, Fury setting up his double jabs early and following up with a decent flurry. McDermott was happy to close the gap, having felt Fury's power early on, the champion felt comfortable in walking down the bigger man. The first signs of discomfort made themselves apparent as McDermott refused to let the young upstart impose his will on him, as had been the story seven times before.

Having been in the ring with far superior competition, and looking good in defeat to Danny Williams, McDermott is no stranger to a war and looked very happy to engage in one. At the end of the first round, the bad blood spilled over after the bell sounded. Both men pushed and shoved as ref Terry O'Connor was needed to separate the fighters.

After a stern talking to, the second round began where the first left off. Fury utilized his double jab and worked the body, whilst John McDermott stalked his prey, using his weight - his only physical advantage - to tire Fury in the clinches. Every time Fury found success, the champion followed up with a better shot, a picturesque left hook landed flush on Fury's chin. It suddenly became very clear; this would be no walk over. Although never appearing in shape, McDermott used subtle head movement and feints to befuddle the challenger, showing class that is only earned through experience; he repeatedly showed the bigger man who was boss.

Throughout the early rounds, McDermott looked more and more confident in taking the fight to a man who had been offered simply no resistance in his career thus far. To his credit, Fury had to adapt and adapt quickly to the oncoming onslaught if he were to maintain his winning streak. Everything Fury came up with McDermott had seen before, he was able to cope well with the pressure, and when the fourth round ended with Fury pressuring him against the ropes, he appeared cool, calm and collected.

The fifth round began with McDermott seemingly in control of the tempo, breaking his opponent's rhythm with clinches and grapples; he had no problem with making the fight ugly. Tyson Fury came out of his shell more in this round, knowing that he wasn't throwing enough quality shots to be competitive, he upped the work rate and picked better flurries. A decent uppercut whipped the champions head back and a barrage towards the end of the round culminated with a right hook that thundered through McDermott's defense, but it did nothing the deter the bullish determination of the Essex man. Showing signs of frustration and likely desperation, at the touch of gloves for the beginning of the sixth, Fury followed up with a cheeky jab, which drew boos from the crowd, without a doubt it was unsportsmanlike, yet the rules also clearly state to defend yourself at all times. A mistake McDermott would do well not to repeat.

Despite giving up nine inches in height and a considerable reach advantage, McDermott started utilizing his jab to good effect. When his corner asked to start double jabbing the bigger man, he obliged and found success. McDermott began to break Fury's confidence and asked questions of him that no-one had previously been able to, yet every time the momentum swung too far in the champions favor, Fury would dig in doggedly, and always manage to find something in the tank.

When McDermott let off the gas finally in the seventh and eighth rounds, Fury was able to take advantage, finding space to do better work. It was the quality rather than the quantity that was letting the young fighter down, this was wholly due to McDermott's ability to close the gap and not allow the leverage and space for those hurtful shots that had stopped lesser opponents.

As the bout entered the final rounds, Fury looked increasingly desperate to be the master of his own destiny, he needed to avoid this going to cards and yet he had no experience beyond four rounds. Both men had soaked up a massive amount of punishment, showing great chins, yet the war had taken its toll as the action was limited to bursts of activity. The foot work and head movement started to disappear from Fury's game, whilst McDermott began to slow in his pressure fighting. Yet through all this, the champion refused to be deterred, having walked through the best Fury could offer he began to look like an immovable object in the challenger's path.

A second wind from Fury in the ninth seemed to signify he was indeed hunting for the knockout; desperation was apparent in his shots as he abandoned the fundamentals and went headlong into battle. During the break for the final round, Fury's corner urged him to take his man out, telling him to throw everything at the champion. McDermott's corner in contrast, told their man he had done enough and just needed to hold on for victory. Both men came out blazing for the final stanza. Uppercuts landed by Fury as he attempted to dominate. A huge hook to the body from McDermott seemed to take the last bit of wind from Fury's sails, yet they both battled on to the last bell. Fury seemed to have done enough to seal the round.

As the final bell rang, the Essex crowd began to cheer for their man, whom they were certain had secured victory, only to see Fury's hand raised by referee Terry O'Connor. Although most, if not all of the rounds were close, myself, along with most other people had McDermott up at least two rounds. It should also be noted that there were at least three rounds which were very close and could have gone either way. Although on the face of it, the fight could hardly be deemed a robbery, scoring a round is a very personal thing and everyone has a different opinion on what constitutes a winning performance. What was most shocking however was the official score card from Terry O'Connor which had Fury winning 98-92, giving McDermott only two rounds out of ten.

Fury maintains his winning streak and was put through his most stringent test yet, barely scraping past a guy who has yet to win his biggest fights on the domestic level. A rematch is almost a certainty, which will go some way to appease "Big Bad" John McDermott. Whilst the domestic journeymen are clearly beneath him, Fury showed a desperate lack of experience, not through what he did do, but what he didn't do in the ring. The small feints and subtle head movements to lure the opponent in were missing, McDermott could see Fury's game plan a mile away, and so could any opponent with some real class. Whether or not Fury is destined for the World stage is yet to be proved, he dug in deep tonight and showed his is capable of delivering a war. Yet he desperately needs to employ some subtlety in his tactics. Unfortunately for a man who nearly doubled his entire ring time tonight, true ring craftsmanship is only earned through experience.

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