Danny Williams, current British heavyweight champion and the most likely Briton to win a heavyweight world title since Lennox Lewis, gets into the ring on Friday, July 18 to defend his prestigious Lonsdale belt against Essex man John McDermott at Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham, England.

Williams, 39-6 (31), is the favorite of the bookies and knows that a good performance could see him sharing the ring with WBC champion Samuel Peter before the end of this year, but William's likable opponent, John McDermott, 25-3 (16), has something to say about this.

"People are writing me off, saying I am just here to make up the numbers," said McDermott. "But this is my opportunity to prove that I can fight and I do have the heart, determination and skill to go to a new level. I've worked hard and sparred many rounds for this fight.

"Although I respect Danny Williams, I'm in the ring to beat him. If I have to outbox him, I will. If I have to outpunch him, I'll do that too. July 18 will be my moment of truth."

Also on the bill will be young Belfast heavyweight, 6 foot 7 inch tall Scott Belshaw. The 23 year old has relocated to Chislehurst and changed his entire training team since losing to Daniel Peret, 13-16 (4), this past March but will get the opportunity to avenge that defeat when he meets Peret in Dagenham on July 18.

Belshaw, 8-1 (7), spent 10 days in a Portuguese training camp, employing new conditioning coach Carl Kemp, who is working alongside Belshaw's new boxing trainer, Brian Lawrence.

Lawrence has told promoter Frank Maloney not to expect too much at the moment but in the next two or three years, Belshaw can become a threat in the heavyweight division.

"People forget what Brian Lawrence has done," said Maloney. "But he's worked with former European super middleweight champion James Cook MBE, former WBO heavyweight champion Henry Akinwande, current British bantamweight champ and man of the moment, Ian Napa, not to mention the revitalized Anthony Small.

"Lawrence is probably one of the best trainers to emerge in Britain over the last few years and has never been given the credit he deserves; but I'll make sure that he does if he can turn Belshaw into a champion."

Frank Maloney Promotions presents "Collision Course", the British heavyweight title fight between Danny Williams and John McDermott with full undercard on Friday, July 18, 2008 at the Goresbrook Leisure Center in Dagenham, England.

Tickets are priced at £85 and £45 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.

Sky Sports will televise live on SS1 at 10PM.

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Boxing News Tags: Brian Lawrence, Carl Kemp, Danny Williams, Frank Maloney, John McDermott, Scott Belshaw