Boxer ‘robbed’ of beating Tyson Fury in title combat now works as garbage clearer

A heavyweight boxer once “robbed” of beating Tyson Fury is now a rubbish clearer.

WBC champion Fury has reigned supreme over the heavyweight division for almost a decade, catapulting to fame after his world title triumph over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. His highly-anticipated showdown with Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is expected to earn him a jaw-dropping £78million.

But the undefeated legend’s ascent could have taken a different turn if not for a contentious victory at the start of his career. In 2009, the Gypsy king – boasting a 7-0 record – took on John McDermott in Brentwood, Essex, for the English heavyweight crown.

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McDermott was a seasoned veteran with 25 victories and five defeats to his name. And despite the trash-talking Fury labelling him “McMuffin” in the build-up, McDermott quickly proved he was no clown, taking control of the fight and rocking his opponent in the eighth round.

Yet, in stunning scenes, referee Terry O’Connor declared Fury the victor, leading to bewildered commentator Jim Watt questioning if he had raised the wrong hand. The shocking decision scored 8-2 in favour of Fury, setting the wheels in motion for McDermott’s decline as his boxing career petered out, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Speaking to The Times, the 44 year old said: “I definitely won it, mate. I don’t know how the referee scored it eight rounds to him and two to me. Fury didn’t say a word. I was literally waiting in the changing room for someone to come and say, ‘There’s been a mistake.'”

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McDermott faced a crushing defeat in the rematch with Fury the next year, getting knocked out in round nine to mark his fourth consecutive loss. He hung up his gloves three years later, feeling bitterly let down by the sport.

The former English heavyweight champion now works in the rubbish clearance business in Essex. “It’s a bit quiet at the moment. Not much work around,” he explained.

“I made 25 grand from fighting him [Fury]. I didn’t earn enough to buy a house. Two fights a year, usually 15 grand each, minimum wage innit? I was not bitter at Tyson Fury when I stopped, but I was at the sport. I still am.”

Even John Fury, Tyson’s larger-than-life dad, admitted to McDermott in the car park after the first fight that he had won. Adding to the drama was the fact the referee in question had been knocked out twice by McDermott’s dad, Stan, in the past.

McDermott’s career declined as promoters remained cautious of the danger he posed to their fighters, resulting in a mere four fights post-Fury. He holds no hard feelings towards Fury, praising his “fantastic” success, though it stings that he couldn’t earn more money for his family.

Fury has certainly managed that, flaunting generational wealth after 35 fights. Even without his earnings from the upcoming Usyk showdown, the 35-year-old boasts a net worth of £68m, surpassing even Anthony Joshua’s £64m, as per Celebrity Net Worth.