Big bad John is looking for a knock down Price (From Echo)

Big bad John is looking for a knock down Price

6:50pm Tuesday 17th January 2012 in Other Sport By Frazer Clark

BASILDON-born boxer “Big Bad” John McDermott knows that he is in for one of the toughest fights of his career when he squares up to Liverpudlian giant David Price on Saturday night.

McDermott, who is now based in Grays, is a double British heavyweight title contender and is no stranger to fighting tall men.

He has twice been in the ring with 6ft 8ins-tall Tyson Fury for the title, having earlier gained the vacant English heavyweight crown in 2008, knocking out Pele Reid in the second round.

But now McDermott’s mind is focused on the final British title eliminator against Price which will get underway, after months of delay stretching way back to last summer.

McDermott said: “It’s true that this fight has been a long time coming.

“We had hoped to fight in June of last year, but then I got an infection and was told there was no way that the doctors would allow me to fight. So that was one delay.

“Then Price broke a rib before the next scheduled date, so it’s about time that this went right.

“He’s 6ft 8ins and I’m 6ft 3ins — so he has the reach.

“The only way I’m going to be able to win this fight is to get inside his guard and get stuck in. I’ve got the experience and the guts to do that and it should make for a really good fight.

“I’m confident that I can beat him, even on his home turf.

“I’ve been fighting for a long time and had 31 bouts, so I can fight at home or travel, it doesn’t really bother me that much.

“Sometimes there is extra pressure on the home boxer and I’ve got 12 rounds to do my stuff,” added McDermott.

The former Noble Art gym fighter shifted to the Belhus Park Boxing Club in South Ockendon in the autumn under coach, former world lightweight champion Jason Rowland.

And the exprience of moving gyms has been a good one for McDermott, who has always had a reputation for being a hard trainer.

He said: “I’m over at Belhus a lot and like being able to get on with it over there with Jason.

“Tony Conquest, John Dignum and Wayne Hibbert are at Belhus too, although to be honest we all train at different times so we don’t see that much of each other.”

McDermott believes that his training, including plenty of roadwork, will stand him in good stead for the clash with the Scouser.

“I’ve done plenty of running for this one because, if it goes the distance it will be important to have plenty in the tank.

“I do some of my running in Thurrock, but I also run over at Chelmsford and at Highgate.

“I’ve also been doing strength work with Mick Malt over at Belhus.”

FULL STORY IN TUESDAY'S ECHO