Danny Williams held on to his British heavyweight title with a controversial points victory over John McDermott in Dagenham.
McDermott disappointed at verdict after gruelling 12-round contest
Danny Williams just about managed to hang on to his British heavyweight title with a controversial decision over John McDermott.
Referee Dave Parris docked the champion points on three separate occasions in the last two rounds of a pulsating bout in Dagenham.
The Brixton Bomber had already been forced to endure a torrid fifth round that saw him come under heavy punishment from McDermott, who appeared to have finally seized his chance in the limelight.
However, the judges did not see it the same way, two awarding the fight 114-113 and 114-111 in Williams' favour with the other scoring it 113-113.
Williams sunk to his knees after hearing the verdict, perhaps in relief that his hopes of getting another crack at a world title are still alive.
The 35-year-old - who famously flattened Mike Tyson in 2004 before going on to lose against Vitali Klitschko - admitted afterwards that he had struggled to get up for the defence of his Lonsdale belt.
Critical
He was also highly critical of Parris after the official punished him for low blows, pushing and then finally for spitting out his gumshield.
"Of course I'm relieved," Williams told
Sky Sports afterwards.
"This is the same referee that robbed me against Michael Sprott when I completely outboxed him. He took away three points ridiculously.
"I forced the fight all the way. I know John is a very good fighter. John boxed out of his skin against me because this was his world title fight."
On a return to the top level, he added: "I still think I've got it. Life is all about motivation. This was a come down for me. I think I've got to vacate and let people like John take over."
Beaten McDermott was left to wonder just how he had failed to take the title after the best display so far in his 26-fight professional career.
He had appeared set to record a stunning stoppage in the fifth, hurting his rival with a crunching right uppercut before piling on the pressure as Williams desperately attempted to cling on for survival.
Warrior's heart
Stretched the full 12 rounds for the first time, the 28-year-old from Horndon in Essex tired in the closing stages but still felt he had done enough to get the nod on the three scorecards.
"I thought I won," a disappointed McDermott admitted. "I showed a warrior's heart in there.
"In sparring I got a sore rib and I think I broke it in the third round. But I just gritted my teeth and carried on through.
"In the last round he caught me with a hell of a good right hand. I came straight back. This is the first day in my career I've shown myself as a real champion."
