Black Country boxer has emergency brain surgery

Sep 13 2010 by Jonny Greatrex, Sunday Mercury

A BRITISH boxing title contender has escaped death in the ring after doctors discovered a potentially fatal brain haemorrhage just weeks before a fight.

Darren McDermott – known as the “Black Country Bodysnatcher” – had been due to take on British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith in Liverpool on October 23.

But the 32 year-old, from Dudley, is now recovering from brain surgery after walking into hospital, complaining of a headache.

Doctors operated immediately after finding that he had bleeding in his brain, which could have killed him if left untreated.

It is feared that the emergency could spell the end of the 6ft 1in boxer’s career, although manager Dean Powell refused to rule out further fights.