Confidence is sky high in the Darren McDermott camp as the Dudley destroyer prepares for his British Middleweight boxing title showdown with champion Wayne Elcock tomorrow (Friday) at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

Despite going into the Midlands tear-up as underdog "the Black Country Bodysnatcher" is more than sure the belt will have a new home in Dudley, come Friday evening.

The fight was originally due to go ahead in April, but a late pull out from Elcock due to a chest infection put the bout back by two months.

McDermott, who will go into the fight with an unbeaten 14-fight record, has been counting down the days to the clash and now can't wait to get into the ring.

He said: "I'm 150 per cent sure I will be bringing the British title back to Dudley.

"Since I started boxing at the age of eight my dream has always been to be British champion and I'm not going to miss out on it now I'm so close.

"Training and sparring has gone unbelievably well and I'm ready to go out there and show what I'm made of.

"I will be underdog on the night but if anything that has fired me up even more to prove people wrong."

Although McDermott has proven to be a box office hit locally, he is relatively unknown to the wider British boxing public and with Friday night's encounter being shown live on Sky Sports he is keen to make his mark.

The 29-year-old added: "There will be no excuses, I will be taking everything out there with me and will lay it all on the table.

"I want to go out there and make a statement that Darren McDermott is the one to beat.

"I've served my apprenticeship and its now time for me to go out there and show I'm the best in Britain."

The gas fitter also believes the fact both fighters are from the West Midlands only adds to what promises to be a memorable match-up.

The bout has been billed as the biggest Midlands boxing derby since former world title challenger Pat Cowdell and Dave Needham faced each other in Wolverhampton for the British featherweight title in 1980.

McDermott said: "There's a lot of interest in this fight in the Midlands area and I reckon it's the biggest all-Midlands fight since Cowdell versus Needham.

"It's Black Country versus Birmingham and I'm going to have a lot of fans there on the night.

"It should be an electric atmosphere and that will help.

"Cowdell and Needham were awesome fighters, but this fight is great for Midlands boxing too."

The Dudley born and bred star will be backed by hundreds of supporters at the Civic, but will also have some support from the House of Commons.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin believes it would be great for the town if Macca can bring the belt back home with him.

He said: "I would like to wish Darren all the best this weekend.

"It is fantastic that he is challenging for titles at the top of his sport.

"I am sure that everyone in Dudley, like me, is very proud of his achievements and will be fully behind him on Friday night."