Irish Ropes puts on a Boxing show like no otherRock or get Rocked!
Photo©NeilMcDaid
On the eve of St. Patrick’s Day the Irish would rock, and get rocked, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This would be the second year in a row that Irish Ropes Promotions has put on a boxing show at The Garden. With the tickets sold out weeks in advance it’s a true testament to the draw of Irish Ropes star boxer. Unfortunately, some of the fans were somewhat disappointed in the performance of John Duddy.
Mark Clancy got things off to a good start with a win [Photo©Neil McDaid]
The first bout of the night would see cruiserweight Mark Clancy, fighting out of the Boston area, take on a scrappy challenger in Jamaican Andrew Hutchinson fighting out of New York. Clancy would seem to have the upper hand early but struggled to get clean shots off on Hutchinson who liked to lay on Clancy. Mark would send Andrew to the canvas but he was quickly back on his feet. Clancy would suffer a cut above his right eye from one of a couple of clean right hooks from Hutchinson. After four rounds the fight went to the cards where the judges called it in favor of Clancy 40-35 40-35 40-35 moving Mark to W7/L0/D1
Henry Coyle has arrived!
[Photo © Neil McDaid]
Second up for the Irish was the much anticipated debut of Co Mayo native Henry Coyle, who is now fighting out of Chicago. Coyle had a storied amateur career in Ireland where he was the national champion and held a world military title. What a feeling it must have been for this young Mayo lad to make his pro debut at Madison Square Garden. Coyle would take very little time to dispose of Jason Collazo who was also making his debut. Clearly a one sided match, we would see Coyle with his closed defensive posture move in on Collazo. Within 1:34 of the first round a right hook to the head of Collazo sent him to his knees; there was no getting up. Game over; Coyle gets his first victory. He’s a nice little fighter worth watching.
Three right hooks to the head sent James Clancy to the canvas in the second
Photo©Neil McDaid
The second of the Clancy brothers, heavyweight James, would step into The Garden ring for the second time in his career. Coming in with a perfect record of 9-0 James was hoping to take care of his challenger, native New Yorker Rodney Ray early in the bout. The slightly taller Ray had other plans. James would open fast in the first, letting loose some powerful bombs on Ray and eventually dropping him to the canvas with a big sweeping right to the head. Unfortunately, James was not able to finish the job, letting Ray come back in the first where he soon started connecting to the head of Clancy with his jab. From the opening bell of the second both fighters would connect hard and often with an all-out slugfest. Ray would take advantage of Clancy as he moved in with his hands low. One, two, three right hooks to the head of Clancy and he was on the canvas. James would struggle to his feet but the legs were having none of it. He staggered back, falling onto the ropes and eventfully to the canvas. The ref had seen enough and wisely called the fight in the second, thus handing James his first loss in his professional career.
Job done! Lee puts "The Squirrel" on the matPhoto©NeilMcDaid
“Irish” Andy Lee by way of Limerick and London would provide a knockout that will surely be played over and over for years to come. The 2004 Irish Olympian is a hard working fighter. Lee claimed six victories in 2006, and he has already opened 2007, with a victory over Arturo Ortega in Las Vegas.
On this night Lee would meet veteran champion fighter Carl “The Squirrel” Daniels. Lee looked sharp from the opening bell, working his jab and his reach to his advantage and converting nicely to a hook when the opportunity arose. Daniels seemed tight and not really connecting with anything of substance on Lee even when Lee would leave himself open. On to the second - the tempo would speed up some with the veteran Daniels moving on Lee, but it was short lived. Lee would find his mark with a single right hook to the head of Daniels; it was as nice a knock as you will see in boxing. Daniels had not even hit the canvas when Lee raised his arm in victory. Looking for some great stuff from Lee as we see him move forward. This victory brings his record to 8-0.
Big opening shots from Duddy on the contender star.
Photo©NeilMcDaid
5,000+ roaring fans welcomed John Duddy to the ring for the main event. John would open in his now-traditional hard hitting style. Using his jab early he would work an opening on Contender star Anthony Bonsante, shaking him slightly a few times in the first. An accidental head butt in the second may have saved Duddy from a tougher test on this night. There is no question that Duddy has the power and promise to make it to a title bout, but he should not have struggled so much with a fighter like Bonsante. Despite the deep cut on his forehead and blood flowing down his face, Bonsante would stand toe to toe with Duddy through the early rounds, often finding a home for his upper cut.
Duddy gives Bonsante an opening and he took advantage.
Photo©NeilMcDaid
Into the sixth, Bonsante would be on the attack as Duddy laxed his stance, carelessly dropping his hands. Although Duddy seemed unfazed by Bonsante’s hooks and jabs, taking chances like this will cost John as he moves up to tougher younger fighters like himself. Bonsante could have thrown in the towel and claimed a technical draw on Duddy due to the accidental head butt, however he was hungry for the victory so he pressed on. Through the ninth Bonsante struggled with vision. Eventually, he could go no further and the fight would be decided on the judges cards. Another victory for Duddy would be the final word. John admitted after the fight that he felt rusty and his timing was off. He readily admitted not sticking with the game plan that trainer Harry Keitt had set out for this fight; again a possible flaw that could stop Duddy in the future. There are enough fight tapes out there now for trainers and boxers to see that Duddy has a weakness; not moving his head enough and leaving himself open often. For now Duddy’s titles and record remain perfect. It seems that only John can decide where it goes from here.
Duddy takes another victory
Photo©NeilMcDaid
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