Whyte Gets Call To Step Up Against McDermott

This week it has been announced that Frank Maloney’s big hitting heavyweight prospect Dillian Whyte will be challenging for the vacant English Heavyweight title in his 10th professional fight against Horndon’s John McDermott in a interesting crossroads fight on December 8th.

This will be at venue yet to be decided on the bill of David Price’s defence of his British and Commonwealth titles against former British, Commonwealth and European Champion Matt Skelton.

David Price vacated the English title so he could challenge for the Commonwealth and British Heavyweight belts, which were vacated by Tyson Fury when Price became mandatory challenger after his 73 second demolition of McDermott, which sent shockwaves around the domestic scene.

The 32 year old McDermott, who brings into this fight a 27-8 with 18 knockouts record, is looking to rebuild his career with potentially one last crack at the prestigious Lonsdale belt for which he has challenged for three times.

McDermott was twice on the receiving end of questionable points decisions against Brixton’s Danny Williams in a 10 month period between July 2008 and May 2009 and previously was bombed in 79 seconds by a then unbeaten Matt Skelton in December 2005.

‘Big Bad John’ holds points wins against former British champion Scott Gammer in a British title eliminator in 2008 and British title challenger Pele Reid but has suffered two losses against Tyson Fury, when Fury was working his way up the ladder.

Whyte, in his nine bout professional career, has had a diet of good durable trial horses of which he has stopped six. In his professional career, he has displayed powerful, fast, accurate punching and terrific finishing ability when he has had his opponent in trouble.

In McDermott, however, Whyte will face a strong, skilful opponent who is more than a handful for any domestic heavyweight when he is fully fit and mentally focussed.

The veteran will look to counter effectively and should be motivated knowing that he if loses to Whyte, his career as a domestic force will almost be certainly over.