McDermott To Tangle Again With Skelton At York Hall

Recently, it has been announced that current Southern Area Champion and three time British Heavyweight title challenger John McDermott will face off in a rematch against former British, Commonwealth and European title challenger Matt Skelton for the currently vacant English Heavyweight title at the historic York Hall on the 15th March.

This English title bout will be a rematch of a British title fight seven years ago in which the 45 year old Bedford born Skelton succeeded in bombing McDermott in just 79 seconds at the Excel Arena in London.

The 32 year old Essex Heavyweight returns to the ring one year after defeating Lativan journeyman Pavels Dolgovs with a fourth round technical knockout which came a month after getting bombed out in just 82 seconds by David Price in a British Heavyweight title final eliminator.

While Skelton’s return to the ring is a lot quicker after also suffering at the hands of the current British and Commonwealth champ, which lasted a round longer than McDermott’s appointment with the giant Scouser before a left hook to the body ended Skelton’s challenge for his old titles at the Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool.

While McDermott is the younger man at 32 in comparison to Skelton, who has recently turned 46 years old, it is important to recognise that Skelton only turned professional at 35 years of age after a lucrative career in mixed martial arts.

During his 11 year professional career, in which he has been engaged in the same number of professional bouts as the previously conquered McDermott, Skelton has boxed as far the much higher level having unsuccessfully challenged Ruslan Chagaev for the WBA Heavyweight title back January 2008.

Skelton has been victorious with a European title, picking up a 9th round retirement stoppage over the Italian Paolo Vidoz over in Lombardia Italy.

Skelton, like McDermott has been 1-1 with Danny Williams, dropping a split decision back in Feburary 2006 before gaining his revenge five months later.

While McDermott’s two bouts with the Brixton Heavyweight were also unsuccessful challenges for a title abit for the Lonsdale belt being on the receiving end of an extremely questionable decision in July 2008 in Dagenham, before gaining 10 months later Williams picked up another split decision over the game McDermott this time up in Sunderland.

McDermott has fought a level or two lower and has always been considered by many on the British scene as a gatekeeper to higher levels, having suffered two losses on his record to the other fast rising young British hope in the shape of Tyson Fury, as well as losing to Price in just 79 seconds.

However McDermott has scored a win over former British champion Scott Gammer in a British title eliminator and also over Pele Reid. And while McDermott and Skelton have fought the same number of bouts, McDermott has boxed 37 rounds fewer, having completed 150 rounds since turning professional while Skelton has completed 187 rounds.

Skelton also has a greater knockout percentage scored 23 knockouts in his 28 wins while McDermott has only 18 knockouts from his 27 wins. Both men have also been stopped four times in their careers as well.

It is a tough domestic pick em fight as Skelton possesses the greater power over McDermott while McDermott is seen as the better boxer of the time but will no doubt be motivated to avenge his 79 second blowout at the hands of Skelton, it has the potential to be a small hall classic with mix of styles and their history.

But will it be case of history repeating itself?