Three and easy for McDermott by Tom Podmore Jun 30th 2006

The old adage that: “Good guy's finish last” was proven wrong last night, as undefeated Dudley prospect Darren McDermott, improved to 10-0-1 (6) with a comprehensive three-round stoppage win over game Pole, Andrezj Butowicz at the Town Hall in Dudley. P J promotions put on the night's action. Local star McDermott urged on by several hundred vociferous hometown fans was expecting his toughest fight to date, against a man who'd fought some of the top names in Europe over the years. It was tentatively set for eight-threes at middleweight. It didn't take long for McDermott (11st 6lbs) to make an impact on the fight. Within the first ten seconds Butowicz found himself on the floor, via a glancing right cross that caught the Pole on the corner of his jaw. Andrejz protested against the count, claiming he had slipped, but the referee (Paul Thomas) was having none of it and administered an eight-count. The remainder of the round was one-sided, with Butowicz being pushed around the ring, while Darren – wearing the Cross-of St.George trunks - teed off with hooks and uppercuts. The man from Katowice was trying, but was being beaten to the punch by the marauding ‘Macca'. Butowicz (11st 5 ½lbs) was caught almost immediately, three successive left uppercuts from the Black Country fighter had the Pole in distress and hanging on. The fight was becoming painful to watch from as early as the second round, as Darren was pounding on Andrejz with a stiff jab followed either by a right uppercut or right hook – both were having the desired effect on the Pole. Butowicz was once again doing his level best to get into the fight, but the relentless Dudley fighter was working him over. In what transpired to be the final round, Darren upped the tempo again, his workrate was totally bemusing Butowicz who, couldn't gain a foothold in the fight and spent the majority of the time trapped on the ropes, shipping left hooks. A left right, left right had Butowicz in trouble and was caught on the ropes; Mr.Thomas dived in and stopped the contest with 1:33 seconds gone of the third round. Butowicz was distraught and threw himself on the floor in anger at it being stopped. I thought the stoppage was a tad premature, Butowicz although, being totally outfought, was throwing a few shots back and many of the blows that he took on the ropes landed on his arms and gloves. Maybe Paul Thomas made the right decision, as the Pole was never in the contest. Butowicz might have lasted a few more rounds, but the referee saved him from a sustained beating. After the fight a jubilant McDermott claimed: “I'm ready for anyone. Even though I've only had eleven contests, I feel seasoned and I want to fight Bendall next for the English title.” That would be some fight. The self-styled ‘Black Country Bodysnatcher' looks ready for the best in the British middleweight division, and that includes Scott Dann. It would be fantastic if a number of ‘Midland' fights could also come off in the next 12-18 months An, A* display from McDermott, who hopes to be fighting again in September, as he closes in on a British title shot. First fight of the night, saw West Bromwich's former welterweight Marcus Portman return to winning ways - after a 27-month hiatus, with a six-twos points win over Pontefract's Peter Dunn at middleweight. The die was cast in the opening round, with the tall Portman (11st 7lbs) working well behind his southpaw jab, then following it with hooks to head and body in close. Portman looked very fluid in the opening stanza, not what you would expect from a man that's been inactive for over two-years. Dunn (11st 2lbs) was ducking low when in close, but was only throwing the occasional jab. Portman – who facially looks a lot like stablemate Young Mutley- was doing much of the same in the following stanza, but now was bringing uppercuts into play, which were landing with success on the crouching Welshman. Dunn, suprisingly, was taking a lot of shots ‘flush', but didn't once seem perturbed by the West Midlander's power – or lack of! Peter tried to work inside in the third, but Marcus was better than Dunn in every single department, banging well inside to the body and on the outside with an educated jab. The hooks were particularly classy from Portman, who was growing in confidence as the fight went on. Dunn was made to hold late on, when a lovely right hook crashed against the side of his head. The fourth saw the classy West Bromwich boxer jabbing with authority, picking his oncoming opponent off with it. The boxer from Pontefract had no answer to it, walking onto it, time after time. In close Dunn tried hooking to the body, but Portman saw the shots coming and blocked them well. The fifth and sixth saw much of the same, accurate jabbing followed by heavy hooks to head and body, Dunn once again tried to swing the fight his way – credit to the Welsh boxer, he never gave up -, but the cleaner work was coming from Marcus. At the bell referee Paul Thomas raised the hand of the former British Masters champion Portman, scoring the contest 60-55. I had it 60-54 to Portman, who's record raises to 13-5-1 (2) Another six-twos saw Huddersfield debutant Eugene Heagney, obtaining a close points win over Shrewsbury's Neil Marston at featherweight. The first round was scrappy at best; the debutant from Yorkshire looked nervous and uneasy when in clinches with the more experienced Marston. Heagney (9st 2lbs) was trying to hard to impress and was caught several times when his defences were low. Marston initiated the toe-to-toe action, but was hurt late on with a whipping right uppercut. The second stanza saw Heagney – urged on by his mother sitting at ringside – working better at distance, but being occasionally caught with right crosses from the Shrewsbury boxer. Heagney was coming into his own in the third and fourth stanzas. He was putting his shot's together well, especially a left hook followed by a right uppercut, which stiffened the legs of Marston (9st) on more than one occasion. Marston's only success came when he managed to get the boyish looking Eugene in clinches. The fifth and sixth were toe-to-toe, but scrappy with clean work at a premium. Marston was desperately trying to swing the fight in his favour, but was getting caught to often to make a case for him. Referee Sean Messer raised the hand of Heagney at the bell scoring the contest 58-57. I scored the fight 59-58 to Heagney who wins on his debut. Marston drops to 7-10 (1). West Bromwich's Dean Hickman returned to winning ways with a chilling second round knockout over Carlisle light welterweight Tom Hogan. The fight was scheduled for four-threes. The aggressive Hickman (10st 4lbs) started the fight like the proverbial ‘Freight train', working over Hogan and bloodying his nose early on with a heavy looking straight right. Hogan (10st 2lbs) had no answer to the marauding Hickman who, rocked the Carlisle fighter with uppercuts, which had turned Tom's legs to jelly. The second was about as one-sided a round as is possible. Hickman was pushing Hogan back and landing hard shots that were unsettling Tom. An opening presented itself to Hickman, who, needed no invitation as he planted a wonderful left hook that knocked the Northerner down, he managed to beat the count, but was on unsteady legs. An uppercut after the knockdown had Hogan staggering and the referee Messer should have waived it off then, but Hickman carried on pounding Hogan and a left hook followed by a chilling right hook knocked the Carlisle man out cold with 2:42 gone of the second. The medical team jumped into the ring, and immediately placed oxygen on the beaten man, who was still ‘out' on the floor. Thankfully, after five minutes Hogan was revived and after sitting on his stool for a while, managed to leave the ring of his own accord. But no thanks to his corner, who could see he wasn't going to win, and should have thrown in the towel. Mr. Messer should also shoulder some of the blame, he had an opportunity to stop it, but failed to do so. It could have been much serious for the brave Hogan. Dean moves to 14-2-1 (5) and Hogan loses for the second time, as his record dips to 6-2 (0). This was my first glimpse at the big-ticket selling light-welterweight Rob Hunt. The first pro from Stafford in 15-years. Hunt looked very talented as he won a six-twos over Birmingham's Peter Buckley, who was having his 270th contest. Hunt (10st) boxed well and threw classy shots, but was sometimes caught too easily from Buckley (10st 5 1/2lbs) who, when opening up had Hunt backpedaling. Buckley's cross-arm defence deflected most of the blows, but plenty of solid shots got through and Buckley seemed respectful of the former kickboxer's power. Referee Sean Messer scored the contest 60-55, which tallied with my card. Hunt improved to 2-0 (1). Buckley drops to 31-228-11 (8), and is closing in on 300 fights. The M.C. asked for the audience to put their hands together for Buckley who had taken the fight at 7pm. He made the short trip over from Birmingham, weighed in, and was fighting at 9pm. Telford's Mark Lloyd won a tougher than expected six-twos before the main event again winless Tommy Jones of Llanelli at middleweight. In a scrappy encounter, Lloyd (11st 3lbs) didn't box to his potential and was dragged into a close-quarters battle with Jones (11st 3lbs) who, dragged Mark down to his level and for this the fight suffered. It wasn't an inspiring encounter. The referee Paul Thomas scored the contest 59-56 to Lloyd. I had it 59-59, such was the scappiness of the encounter, that I found it almost impossible to split rounds. Lloyd moves to 6-0 (0). Welshman Jones dips to 0-7. West Brom's Wayne Downing was meant to fight on the card, but his opponent, Malik Khan pulled out with injury.

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Absolutely horrible stoppage in the main event, I thought. Jul 6th 2006, 02:28:53 by russ l It's true that the Polish lad hadn't done a lot, but he was defending himself and didn't look hurt. It's not like Macca needs favours.