Shock at the speed of Big John defeat (From Echo)

Shock at the speed of Big John defeat

1:08pm Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Other Sport By Frazer Clark

JOHN McDermott’s defeat at the hands of Liverpudlian giant David Price on Saturday night came so fast the Grays-based heavyweight hardly had time to get into his stride, according to his corner.

Jason Rowland had trained McDermott for the fight for the English Heavyweight bout — but the long-awaited battle lasted only 73 seconds. Price’s bone-crunching uppercut had McDermott on the floor.

And it did not get any better for Basildon-born McDermott as right hooks put him back on the canvas twice again.

With a minute and a half of the first round left the referee stepped in.

It was the manner of the 6ft 8ins Price’s victory that shocked Rowland who has trained McDermott in South Ockendon.

Rowland said: “It all happened so quickly.

“He went in with everything blazing, but I said to him: ‘you have to watch out for what’s coming back at you’.

“John was looking OK in the gym. But you have to do that on the night.

“Price is as good as they say he is. John was caught by the best shot Price threw, but I would say that it was over too quickly. It was the uppercut that got him and and the other shots did not seem too harsh,” he added.

Rowland was philosophical about where the defeat leaves McDermott.

And he was also critical of the pre-fight weigh-in where the Essex fighter was left with a question mark over his weight.

Rowland said: “I saw him on the scales. They tried to unsettle him, and that happens in boxing sometimes.”

McDermott’s corner saw the scales muddle as gamesmanship on behalf of the Price camp.

“John had asked me to look after him and train him for this fight after he parted company with his previous trainer.

“I was glad to help him and the fight has been delayed so many times that its been six months now.

“John is a nice kid and while I’ve been training him he’s become a friend,” added Rowland who firmly believes that McDermott has options in the fight game.

McDermott is still reigning Southern Area Champion and may have chances for belts if the on-form David Price goes on to challenge for a British title which could leave the English title vacant.

But for the next few days Rowland said McDermott would be thinking things over.

“I would be happy to train him again. I do not know where his head is at at the moment. It is about how much he want it from here on,” added Rowland.