Big Larry and Big Bad John on heavyweight collision course

‘Big’ Larry Olubamiwo has been ordered to defend his Southern Are heavyweight crown against three-time British title challenger ‘Big Bad’ John McDermott. The Southern Area Council has called for purse bids to be submitted by 4 October with the contest to take place by the end of November.

The big-hitting Olubamiwo, 9-1 (8), will be looking to record his fourth successive first-round win after blasting out Scott Belshaw, Colin Kenna and Dave Ferguson thus far in 2010. The pair, both promoted by Frank Maloney, could meet on the undercard of Sam Webb’s British light-middleweight title defence against Martin Concepcion at Newham Leisure Centre on 16 October.

Despite going winless since his second round stoppage over Pele Reid in April 2008, McDermott, 25-7, will represent a step up in class for the Hackney slugger having pushed Tyson Fury and Danny Williams all the way in a brace of rematches.

McDermott was considered highly unfortunate not to receive Terry O’Connor’s nod against Tyson Fury in their first meeting in September 2009 but ran out of gas and was floored three times en route to suffering a ninth round stoppage against Fury in their English title rematch in June.