Elcock (right) won the WBU Middleweight title in 2003 (Getty)

Birmingham boxer Wayne Elcock wants to put the record straight when he meets Dudley's Darren McDermott in their rescheduled British Middleweight fight.

The bout was initially planned for April but Elcock had to pull out due to illness which led to accusations of the 34-year-old champion playing for time.

"I heard some of the things that were flying around at the time but we'll see on the night," Elcock told BBC WM.

"I'll prove everyone wrong. Luckily the board gave me the time to repair."

A chest infection scuppered Elcock's hopes of making the first defence of the title he won when he beat Howard Eastman in September last year.

McDermott's camp offered to restage the fight within four weeks but Elcock's advisors rejected that saying the champion needed more time to recover.

I'll give Darren the utmost respect but I'm not ready to give up the title yet Wayne Elcock

"People were saying I could've got ready in four weeks but it wasn't like I'd just spent three weeks in the Bahamas," Elcock added to BBC WM.

The bout is being billed as the biggest in the history of Midlands boxing and Elcock knows McDermott will be tricky opponent.

"He's a great fighter to be fair. Darren's come through quietly and a lot of his fights haven't been televised.

"He comes with an unbeaten record and I'll give him the utmost respect.

"It's great for Midlands boxing but I'm not ready to give up the title yet. I've just beaten [Howard] Eastman and I want to defend it a few more times yet."

The fight will take place next month at a venue yet to be decided.