'Macca' gives his take on Welborn v Aston

Champion Jason Welborn, a two-weight area boss, defends against Ryan Aston in a 10-round grudge match at Wolverhampton Civic Hall,

McDermott has known Dudley's Aston, 24, since the challenger first took up boxing at age nine and even worked the corner for his first bout.

And Rowley Regis' Welborn, 29, was his sparring partner at his home gym in Woodsetton during the former Midlands and English middleweight champion's pro hey-day.

That leaves 'Macca,' now 36, with a well-placed opinion of how the main event could pan out, although even he's hard-pressed to pick a winner.

He said: "First of all, I wish both fighters the best of luck. I have been friends with them for years and only want to see them do well.

"But this has been a long time coming, it's a fantastic 50-50 fight and both have got their work cut out for them. It's a hard one to call.

"I actually gave Ryan the nickname 'Tank,' because of how he used to steam in whaling away when he first took up boxing as a kid.

"I was the head man at Priory Park Boxing Club, at the time, and took him for his first six bouts. To think that was nearly 15 years ago.

"I know how Jason operates in the ring and he's improved a lot. He was pretty raw back then, but the pro game always suited him better.

"He was always a strong kid, though, who stayed busy and put the pressure on you. I was more of a boxer, than a scrapper, like Ryan is."

A man after his own heart, 'the Black Country Bodysnatcher' has told Aston to pick his shots when targeting the big blows downstairs.

McDermott said: "If Ryan throws shots to the body expecting to drop him in one, he's boxing the wrong fight. Jason is too tough.

"Ryan needs to get on his toes and try to stun him when he goes for those punches. He has that element of surprise, as a southpaw.

"I can this going into the later rounds, perhaps even the distance. I think Ryan will be a bit too clever for him early on, boxing wise.

"It's whether he can keep that up in the second half of the fight. That's when skill goes out of the window and it's about determination.

"If it then becomes a war, I don't fancy Ryan. But, if it stays a boxing match, I wouldn't back Jason. He's just needs to put it on him."

McDermott headlined a British middleweight title fight at a packed Civic in 2008, in another derby with Birmingham's Wayne Elcock.

'Mad Dog' retained his crown after just two rounds, after McDermott suffered a wide gash under his right eye from a clash of heads.

He said: "The only thing I pray doesn't happen to Jason and Ryan is that, it was such a deflating end to a big, big fight for the area.

"It still sickens me to think about the finish now, but also what makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck is the Civic crowd.

"There were over 1,500 people there that night and the sound was deafening when I went to the ring. Wayne was under some pressure.

"It won't be like that this time. Jason has his fans, Ryan has his but there's a lot who support them both, too."

There's two other Midlands title fights in chief support, with the area's vacant super middleweight and featherweight crowns to be contested.

Andrew Robinson will take on 'Prince' David Davis in the former, while Birmingham's Paul Holt duels with Bobby Jenkinson in the latter.

For more information and tickets, call the Civic box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157. Some will be available on the door.