TYSON Fury has promised to live up to his name by frightening the life out of boxing - just like his hero, Iron Mike.

Fury bids for his first professional title on Friday when he takes on English heavyweight champion John McDermott.

And the 21-year-old insists he'll have his opponent quaking in his boots when they go head to head at the Brentwood Centre, Essex.

"I'm bringing that fear factor back into boxing like Mike Tyson did," said Fury. "I'm looking at my opponents in their corner and they're scared of me before I even fight.

"Watch McDermott and see if he's not scared. I think he'll be in a shell for five rounds before he even wakes up.

"But he'll wake up on the floor. I've got a 100 per cent knockout record and I don't want to lose that."

At 6ft 7ins, Fury cuts a terrifying figure inside and outside of the ring. Added to a professional record of seven straight knockouts, it is easy to see why he is being tipped to emulate Tyson as a future world champion.

But his daunting stature has proved almost as much of a hindrance as a help so far with trainer, Steve Egan, struggling to find fighters on these shores willing to spar with him.

He has already had to fly out to Germany to find sparring partners as he prepares for the biggest fight of his young career.

Should he overcome McDermott, he has set his sights on the Irish and British titles before the end of the year.

Fury focus

It will be his first fight since reuniting with Egan after an underwhelming third-round knockout of Aleksandrs Selezens in July, when Fury trained himself and fought despite a back injury.

He says this time out he is determined to lay down a marker that will send ripples around the world of boxing.

"I was disappointed with my last fight because I know I can box a lot better than that," he said.

"I'm my own worst critic. I always set high standards and if I don't perform to that I give myself a lot of stick.

"I had a bad back for two months. I got punched in the back and couldn't train or do anything. Selezens was a spoiler, but he'd never been stopped or put down and I was the first to do it."

Fury has been happy to stir up emotions before the clash, embarking on a war of words with McDermott, who he dismisses as 'McDonut'.

It has prompted promoter, Frank Maloney, to warn him to let his fists do the talking.

"This kid is a good talker, but he is heading for a painful fall and when that happens he will realise the trouble that his big mouth has got him in," said Maloney. "We still don't know if he can fight. Hopefully, when Big Bad John hits him on the chin we will find out."

But he is convinced he has the ability to back up the hype and has promised a performance that will secure him a shot at Danny Williams' British title.

"It's boxing, it's a business. I'm not going to be nice to him," he said. "If I'm any good I'll win. It's no good me saying I'm going to be a champion and then getting beaten by McDermott. Every fight I have I put pressure on myself."

HEAVYWEIGHT Mike Holden will go before the British Boxing Board of Control to learn if he can take part in next month's prizefighter.

Holden made a return to the ring after six years on Friday with a draw against Tomas Mrazek on Friday.

But the BBBoC have yet to decide if the 41-year-old is physically ready to take part in Prizefighter.

Do you think Fury is the real deal? Have your say.