Tyson Fury received a hotly disputed decision over Essex rival John McDermott on a night of heavyweight action at Brentwood

Two brief encounters and a long-distance battle that will cause arguments for many months to come were the highlights on a night of heavyweight action at Brentwood on Friday, writes Len Whaley.

The English heavyweight title clash was the 10-round tussle and saw unbeaten Manchester prospect Tyson Fury receive a hotly disputed decision over Essex rival John McDermott.

Promoter Frank Maloney protested the decision, insisting that McDermott deserved a rematch, while new champion Fury, a member of the Hackney-based Hennessy Sports stable, responded in typically brash style.

"Bring it on," Fury said. "I will stop McDermott next time."

Yet the clash lacked the explosive power that is a vital ingredient of any heavyweight battle, and there was little to scare off the rising hopes of the division, including Tom Dallas and Larry Olubamiwo, who both scored quick wins on the night.

Dallas appears ready for a step up in class following his seventh straight victory - a first-round success over Hungarian Mihaly Nemet, who was blasted out in just 74 seconds following a series of powerful right hands.

The Peacock Gym fighter, who trains under Mark Roe, has scored five wins inside two rounds after two points victories in his opening pro outings.

Ex-Repton amateur Olubamiwo was also in action in Essex, halting Hungary's Norbet Sallai in a one-sided affair that ended in 1min 41secs of the opening round.

Big- hitting Olubamiwo returned to winning form after his four-fight blitz of inside-the-distance wins was ended by a points setback in his previous fight.

l Meanwhile, another former Repton star faces the biggest chance of his paid career next month when Courtney Fry challenges top prospect Nathan Cleverly for the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight titles.

Fry, who clinched international honours as an amateur with Repton over a decade ago, will fight for his first major professional honours at the age of 34 on the Frank Warren promotion at York Hall on October 9.

With just two setbacks in his 15-fight career spread over six years, Fry knows that he is at an age when most fighters have quit the sport and a big time opportunity may not come his way again.

"I know this is my big chance. I aim to take it with both hands," Fry said.