Tyson Fury narrowly avoided defeat to John McDermott (2009)

Tyson Fury's Rise to Glory

Tyson Fury, now recognized as the best heavyweight fighter in the world, has had a remarkable journey in the sport. From a controversial draw in 2018 to a sensational victory over Deontay Wilder in 2020 to become the WBC world champion, Fury has cemented his place at the top of the boxing world.

The Almost Loss to John McDermott

However, it could have been a very different story for Fury. In 2009, early in his career, Fury faced off against John McDermott in a fight that could have ended his unbeaten record.

A Questionable Victory

In the bout against McDermott, Fury managed to secure a wide points win, but it was a far from impressive performance. McDermott outboxed and bullied the younger Fury, leaving fans and experts outraged by the decision.

Controversial Scoring

The referee, Terry O'Connor, scored the fight 98-92 in favor of Fury, despite Jim Watt, who was commentating for Sky Sports, giving the victory to McDermott by two rounds. Many in the boxing community condemned O'Connor's decision, calling it a "disgrace to boxing."

The Fallout

McDermott, devastated by the loss, expressed his frustration in a post-fight interview, questioning how he could have been penalized when Fury was the one with the "big mouth." Fury, on the other hand, believed he had won and stated that he would have retired if he had lost the fight.

The Rematch

A year later, Fury and McDermott faced off again in a rematch, and Fury emerged as a different fighter, knocking McDermott down three times before securing a ninth-round stoppage.

The Lingering Controversy

Even after the rematch, the controversy of their first encounter remains. McDermott claimed that Tyson's father, John, admitted to him that his son had actually "lost the fight." McDermott still feels annoyed by the result and believes it could have had a significant impact on his career.

The Contrasting Paths

Since their fateful meeting in 2009, Fury has become a multi-millionaire and the undisputed heavyweight champion, while McDermott retired in 2013 after just four more fights. McDermott, now working on the railways, reflects on the missed opportunity and the financial struggles he faced in comparison to Fury's success.

Fury's victory over McDermott in their rematch ultimately set him on the path to greatness, but it's clear that the result of their first meeting could have drastically changed the course of their careers.