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CENTRE OF ATTENTION: Sky TV's cameras focus in on John McDermott

A THURROCK boxer has punched his way to the English heavyweight boxing title.

Grays-based professional boxer John McDermott - who previously lived at Horndon on the Hill - won his first pro boxing title at the York Hall in Bethnal Green.

Now the 6ft 2in tall fighter has his sights set on the British title - and a possible fight with Danny Williams.

28-year-old McDermott, managed by boxing legend Frank Warren, beat Birmingham's Pele Reid in the brutal contest for the vacant English heavyweight title.

He said: "I'm delighted because it was my first title success and now opens the doors for a crack at the British title. "I knew that Pele was going to be a hard opponent because he had 24 fights with 19 wins.

"He's had 12 wins by knockout and of the wins 14 were in the first round. So I knew that he was going to start well.

The borough fighter - who when he's not training hard for bouts works in London cleaning and restoring bronze statues - said: "The fight was hard but once I'd got into the first round I knew that I had him. I felt good before the fight and had trained for it really hard.

12:11pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008

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