Danny McDermott Talks Brian Miller Fight, Future Plans

By Ryan Burton

 

New Jersey native Danny "Little Mac" McDermott (8-1-1 ) takes on undefeated prospect Brian Miller (7-0) on March 25th in North Bergen, NJ.  The lightweight bout headlines an eight fight card at Schuetzen Park.  McDermott talks about the upcoming bout, reflects on his sole loss and talks about his future plans in this BoxingScene.com interview.

 

BoxingScene.com:  What is the latest with you?

 

Danny McDermott:  Nothing much.  I have just been in the gym training,  getting this weight off.  I am getting ready for my fight.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Tell us about the upcoming against undefeated Brian Miller?

 

Danny McDermott:  I am fighting Brian Miller the New York State lightweight champ.  I am not really worried about it.  I know it is going to be a tough fight.  There is going to be a lot of toe to toe action.  I already have footage on him.  I watched his last fight and a couple other fights so I am ready.  The book is out on him and we are coming up with a game plan in the gym.

 

BoxingScene.com:  What do you think is going to be the key to the fight?

 

Danny McDermott:  He has never fought backing up.  He doesn't fight well backing up I should say.  We are just going to take it to him.  In all the fights I have seen of him he has been the aggressor and that plays right into to me.  I am an aggressor too.  It is going to be a hell of a fight.  It is going to be a war.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Tell us a little bit about your team.

 

Danny McDermott:  I am in the gym with Mickey Skowronski over at Passaic, New Jersey.  We have amazing people over there in the gym.  You have Vivian Harris, Kendall Holt, Mikey Perez, Pawel Walak.  we have had Paulie Malignaggi up there.  So much east coast talent goes to that gym for work.  There is always good sparring. 

 

BoxingScene.com:  Your record is 8-1.  What happened in your one loss?

 

Danny McDermott:  I guess I fought a guy in his hometown.  The fight was actually scheduled for six rounds and before I went into the ring they switched it to a four rounder.  It was a Top Rank show where I think the main event was Hasim Rahman.  The first round I gave away because we had a six round game plan and when it was switched up I was confused on which strategy to use.  My strategy was messed up and I basically gave away the first round.  The second round I maintained by composure and I was winning that round until there was like fifteen seconds left and I got caught when I was looking up at the clock and I took a knee.  It was just a flash knockdown but it wound up being the main factor in me losing the fight.  In the third and fourth round I had him hurt.  He was on his way out but I didn't get him to drop.  If I had the fight and sixth round I would have got him out of there.  It is just one of those things.  I lost by a point two judges scorecards.  It is all in the past.  I am not really looking back at it too much. 

 

BoxingScene.com:  Tell us about your amateur background.

 

Danny McDermott:  As an amateur I trained in Spanish Harlem at the Thomas Jefferson Gym.  In the mid nineties through 2001 it was with Jimmy Archer, Joey Archer's brother.  I fought all over New York in the Golden Gloves and Metros.  I am from Jersey but I only fought maybe three times in New Jersey.  I fought a couple times in the state championships and I fought one time in the Golden Gloves and I got robbed in the finals.  I was on the New Jersey national team representing the USA down in Puerto Rico for an international tournament and I won a bronze metal.  That is pretty much it.  I turned pro at 25.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Where do you see yourself a year from now?

 

Danny McDermott:  A year from now I would like my record to be up to maybe 18-1.  The next year my goal is to fight the top guys.  This year is going to be my build up year and next year will be my break out year.

 

BoxingScene.com:  What kind of crowd are you expecting for the fight?

 

Danny McDermott:  It should be a big crowd.  Probably like fifteen hundred or so.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Do you have a message for the fans?

 

Danny McDermott:  If you can't make it to the fight go to gofightlive.com.  They are going to be streaming it.  It is going to be an action packed fight.  You are going to see two tough kids going at it hard.  It is for the NABC lightweight title.  I plan on being victorious and bringing the championship back to New Jersey.