John McDermott: Don't write me off

For someone who has had only 28 bouts, John McDermott has already had a few low points as a boxer. The biggest was surely the night at the ExCeL in East London in 2005 when he challenged Matt Skelton for the British Heavyweight title. He froze and was knocked down twice and stopped in just 79 seconds.

The big 28-year-old part-time artist took the next year off, but has rebuilt his career and on Friday challenges Danny Williams for the British title, eager to put memories of that previous title challenge behind him.

Few think he can do it and he is as much as 5-1 at the bookies (some odds for a two-horse race). But if he is now in the second part of his career, it is going well. He is unbeaten in six bouts, outworked Scott Gammer, the former British champion, in an eliminator last September and scored his most impressive win in his most recent contest - stopping Pele Reid for the English title in two rounds. If McDermott is good enough, his challenge is coming at the right time.

"People are writing me off, saying I am just here to make up the numbers," McDermott said. "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."

The bout is at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, a venue that does not hold particularly good memories for him. It was there, in 2003, that McDermott suffered his first defeat, being knocked out by Nicolay Popov, when he was caught and fell so awkwardly, he broke his leg. Friday cannot be any worse than that.