Mad Dog aims to back up bark with big bite (From Dudley News)

Mad Dog aims to back up bark with big bite

The much-anticipated all Midlands match-up has not been without controversy in the build -up after champion Wayne Elcock vowed to make Dudley's Darren McDermott suffer, admitting the challenger had got under his skin.

A war of words has erupted between the two camps ever since the champion pulled out of the original date in April due to a chest infection.

The Black Country Bodysnatcher's camp played on the Birmingham boxers late withdrawl as a major success in the pre-fight mental battle and Elcock confessed they have certainly fired him up ahead of tomorrow's showdown.

He said: "I was really angry that they were trying to rush me into the fight after a serious illness.

"What has got me going is that I have never ducked anyone or pulled out of a fight.

"I don't know how they can say I was ducking and diving to avoid him.

"For people to say I have been avoiding him has got under my skin.

"But it is all the better to be fair because it is going to make for a cracking fight.

"It is going to be the hardest fight of McDermott's career and I am looking forward to proving that I am the number one.

"If I wasn't fired up before then all that has been said about me has taken me up to boiling point and I can't wait to get it on with him.

"I don't get mad, I get even at the end of the day and that is what it is all about.

"He has really got under my skin but he is going to suffer on the 20th."

"I believe I'm the best in Great Britain and in this fight I want to show people there is still a lot more to come from me."