A FRUSTRATED Darren McDermott has described the decision to stop his fight with Commonwealth middleweight champion Darren Barker last Saturday as “ridiculous”.

Referee Dave Parris controversially halted the fight at Watford Coliseum 30 seconds from the end of the fourth round after Macca had taken an eight second count.

The Black Country Bodysnatcher had returned to his feet after being felled by a sharp right hand from Barker but Parris ruled he was unfit to continue - a decision which infuriated Macca and trainer Dean Powell.

McDermott has now questioned the decision to appoint Londoner Parris to referee the bout with Barnet-born Barker. He was also upset with the TV coverage on ITV4 which he claims strongly favoured his opponent.

He said: “I felt it was an ridiculous stoppage after the fight and I still feel that now.

“When I was knocked down I did exactly what I had been told by my corner, I stayed down for seven seconds and got back to my feet.

“My head was clear, I was alert but the next thing I knew the referee was waving his arms and it was all over.

“I know it sounds bitter and like an excuse but I just feel it was all stacked against me from the start.

“It was a London referee with a London fighter, they could have got anyone in the Commonwealth to referee the fight.

“I think if it had been the other way round, with Barker knocked down, the fight would have carried on.

“When I watched the fight again I had to turn the sound off, the commentators only seemed to mention the punches he landed.

“Before the fight they were talking as though he had already won - I was never given a chance.”

McDermott had taken a number of right hand shots from Barker before the knockdown as he struggled for rhythm in the early stages, though the Priory Powerhouse had landed some strong punches of his own including a searing left hook in the second round.

Despite the disappointment McDermott, who remains English champion, believes his days in the sport are far from over.

He said: “I will sit down with my team and we will be decide where we go from here but there is no way I’m turning my back on the sport, I will fight again.

“It’s true I took a few silly right hands on Saturday but it was a 12 round fight, I didn’t feel out of my depth at any stage.

“Afterwards they were describing Barker as world class but I didn’t think he was that much better than me.

“I’m determined to keep going and bounce back.”

McDermott also hailed his supporters after more than 150 of them travelled down south on Saturday, creating a raucous atmosphere both before, during and after the fight.

He added: “People say Ricky Hatton has great fans but I’d rather have my Black Country supporters any day.

“I take my hat off to them and want to thank them for the tremendous backing they gave me. I thought they were phenomenal.”