Brooklands ABC

The former Midlands and English middleweight champion, who also challenged for the British and Commonwealth titles, saw his career come to a sad end.

McDermott was training for a shot at the British super middleweight title against Paul Smith when a stray blow to the head from Nathan Cleverly, now a WBO world champion, left him in real danger.

Brain surgery saved his life but ended his career at 32, leaving a huge void in his life that could only be filled by staying in the sport.

Today, he is content again after opening his own amateur boxing club, Brooklands ABC, named after his house and ran out of his home gym in the back garden in Woodsetton, Sedgley.