McDermott and Elcock fight is on

The biggest fight in West Midlands' recent boxing history is on after Dudley's Darren McDermott was cleared to fight Birmingham's Wayne Elcock for the British middleweight title.

The British Board of Boxing Control has made "Bodysnatcher" McDermott mandatory challenger and has sanctioned the contest to take place before the end of May.

No venue has yet been discussed but the fight will attract huge interest from all over the region.

McDermott, who beat Leeds' Darren Rhodes in a British eliminator last February, has long coveted his dream fight and has already begun preparations for the biggest fight of his life.

But the 29-year-old gas pipe layer won't be fighting before the eagerly-awaited spring showdown.

McDermott's manager Dean Powell said today: "The big winner here is boxing – and in particular West Midlands boxing.

"It's arguably the biggest fight the West Midlands has had – certainly on a par with Pat Cowdell and David Needham or Robert McCracken and Paul Wesley, who was an outsider anyway.

"I've got huge respect for Wayne and the people who look after him, the Lynch brothers."

But Powell believes McDermott can topple the champion.

"I think Darren will win," said Powell. "Wayne is a good champion and it's going to be a great fight for the area.

"We have done our job woith Darren. He has come on quietly through the back door, but he's been dedicated and he's highly disciplined.

"His advisor, Ronne Brown, has done a great job and this title chance is a result for everyone who has been a part in Darren's development in boxing over the last 20-22 years."

Former Priory Park ABC fighter McDermott has worked his way through the ranks, becoming Midlands champion and British Masters belt holder and boasts an unbeaten record of 15 fights, stopping nine of his opponents.

Shard End-based Elcock, 33, was crowned British champion when he beat Howard Eastman at Coventry's Skydome in September on a unanimous points decision.

He lost the chance to become double world champion when he was defeated by Arthur Abrahams for the IBF belt in Switzerland on December 8 after stopping Vincent Baldassara in six rounds for the less-acclaimed WBF version in September 2006.

Elcock also won the English belt when he stopped Coventry's Steve Bendall in eight rounds in December 2006.