JOHN McDermott turned back the clock with a first-round stoppage of the big punching Larry Olubamiwo to secure the Southern Area heavyweight belt on Saturday night.

McDermott, a former St Pancras amateur star and ex-English heavyweight champion, had been told by his trainer CJ Hussein that he must not only win but win well to get his career back on track.

The 30-year-old, who had lost his last four successive fights, heeded Hussein’s call, attacking Olubamiwo from the first bell and always had the upper hand.

Olubamiwo, considered by many to be a contender for major honours after winning 10 of his previous 11 fights, had no answer to McDermott who floored him with a left hook after just 45 seconds.

The blow rocked the reigning champion, who had secured nine of his previous 10 wins by knockout. Referee Jeff Hinds allowed the fight to continue but McDermott refused to let his opponent off the hook and decked him with a straight right 30 seconds later.

Olubamiwo picked himself up and was intent on continuing, but referee Hinds had seen enough and stopped the contest inside 75 seconds of the contest.

The scintillating victory boosted McDermott’s English heavyweight ranking from 13th to seventh and he could now be set for a third fight with British champion Tyson Fury, who stopped McDermott in June, nine months after a hugely controversial points win in their first fight.

“It was a good win,” said Hussein. “We had to win and he put in a great performance. He was punch perfect. John was 33-1 to win in the first round and he tore up the script. If you are going to silence your critics that is the way to do it.

“I hope people now sit up and take notice. John exposed Larry Olubamiwo for what he was.

“What John learned from his [British heavyweight fight] with Danny Williams helped him with this fight. He hit him and just did not let that kid go.

“Frank Maloney [McDermott’s promoter] stayed in the changing room from start to finish.

“He saw how he warmed up and I think that he feels that John is something special.

“A third fight with Fury is a possibility. I think John would like to have that fight as that first loss to Fury was a big thing for him.

“I think Fury’s very tough, but John will beat him. John has recently got married and and he and his wife Steff are expecting a baby.

“He is fighting for his family now and he has got all the potential in the world.”

? IN the ABA’s tonight, St Pancras are represented by Davies Pagen, who will be figting at middleweight. He is unbeaten in seven fights since joining CJ Hussein.