We've had some very good derby scraps on Friday Fight Night over the past couple of weeks - and this could be another one.
We have a young hungry fighter in Darren McDermott up against Wayne Elcock, who has boxed at a higher level and even challenged Arthur Abraham for the world title in December.
Logic says you have to side with the champion for that reason alone, but this is a great chance for McDermott to test himself.
Elcock: experience
He has done everything that has been asked of him in his career to date and with 14 wins and a draw in 15 fights, he has done it in style.
It's all very well a guy firing through six and eight rounders but you've got gauge how far he is going to go sooner or later - and this is his first real test.
McDermott is not a massive puncher, but does have a tremendous workrate and I expect that to be his tactic here. My biggest concern is, looking down his record, he has mainly fought losing fighters, guys he has been supposed to beat.
Putting his title on the line makes it an even bigger gamble for Elcock. But it is probably the right thing to do. There isn't much point giving him a tune-up when he's been up at the highest level and that Abraham result has probably underlined that his future lies at domestic level.
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Elcock on the other hand, has been boxing at a much higher level for the past couple of years. He has had a good couple of result lately, not least the points win over Howard Eastman, which was only in September, not exactly the dim and distant past.
On that evidence alone, you would make Elcock the heavy, heavy favourite, but the fact that he is coming back off a loss, albeit against a world-class fighter in Abraham, means you can never be sure.
Gamble
When you are nudging towards world title level your confidence builds fight by fight, but when one result propels you into that level as the Eastman win did for Elcock, suddenly you find yourself sitting in that dressing room ready to take on a world champion and wondering if you are ready!
Elcock started brightly against Abraham, but was well beaten in the end. Like I say, Abraham is a fighter I like and would love to see him fight Kelly Pavlik, but coming into any fight on the back of a defeat is never ideal.
And putting his title on the line makes it an even bigger gamble for Elcock. But it is probably the right thing to do. There isn't much point giving him a tune-up when he's been up at the highest level and that Abraham result has probably underlined that his future lies at domestic level.
And there are still some very good fights out there in Britain. We have John Duddy, Matthew Macklin, Paul Smith and Darren Barker, who I would imagine, would be a very makeable for Elcock.
That is of course assuming he wins. He has only fought 21 times but has been as high as you can go and although 34 is not exactly old in today's climate, you have to side with his experience.
But McDermott is young and hungry and does like to set a high pace, which will not make it easy for the champion. But I still expect him to come through, although his talk of a second world title, might just be a little far-fetched.
Comments (2)
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Gemma Colley says...
Elcock boxed a brilliant fight especailly as he faces a hostile crowd. it was agreat night of boxing by all. it was nice to see steven saville of wolverhampton making a come back well done sav. a pround night for the wolverhampton area as most of the lads were from there and s good night for the sport of boxing. as specail well done and upmost respect for Elcock as he remain professional even at the end of the fight where the crowd started hurling absive comments.
Posted 16:15 22nd June 2008
Nina Kitajewski says...
Knowing Darren McDermott you see his passion for what he does and nothing is going to get in his way to achieving his goals. Macca - the cob is behind youall the way!!!
Posted 17:31 20th June 2008
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