John Duddy bids farewell to the US Boxing scene if only for a while [Photo/ Neil McDaid]
By Neil McDaid
New York, NY - May 18, 2007 - Ireland’s John Duddy closes what could be called the first chapter in his young pro career, a career that is thought by some to be headed for a bid at the middleweight world championship title. In his last scheduled US fight Duddy would make it victory # 20 by going the distance with Dupre Strickland at the Beacon Theater in NYC. Duddy plans to return home this week to disclose his plans for his first fight as a professional in his native Ireland.
Chapter one
September 19,2003 - Far from his beloved native Derry City, Ireland John Duddy, virtually an unknowing fighter outside of Ireland, would make his pro debut at Jimmy's Bronx Café in NY. He scored a first round knock out over Tarek Rached.
Duddy, a somewhat frustrated amateur fighter struggling to turn pro in Ireland, was approached by the McLaughlin Brothers of Irish Ropes Boxing and was convinced to join their team in the United States. With explosive first round knockouts recorded in his first three fights, Duddy would quickly assemble a very vocal Irish fan base in his corner at every fight.
March 18, 2005 - Foxwoods Resort, CT - With eight fights and eight victories under his belt John Duddy would find his way onto the under card of fellow Irish heavyweight Kevin McBride. Going in as the underdog, Duddy would face off against the much hyped “Haitian Sensation” Lenard Pierre. With ESPN broadcasting live to thousands, John Duddy would explode onto the US boxing scene. One minute and 23 seconds was all it would take for the “Derry Destroyer” to stop Pierre. Duddy’s performance on the night would outshine the main event.
In June of 05, Duddy and Irish Ropes would step onto the canvas of one of the most famous boxing venues in the world, Madison Square Garden (MSG). Scheduled on the under card of the WBO Light Welterweight Title fight between Miguel Cotto and Mohamad Abdulaey. Duddy would go the distance in a eight round match up with Patrick Thomson, where he eventfully take victory by UD.
July 05 - Chicago, IL - ESPN Friday Night Fights would feature Duddy as the main event. John would face off with a crafty veteran of 43 fights, Patrick ‘The Cat” Colman. Colman found his way to open a cut on Duddy’s right eye and, for the most part, Colman did a good job to hang in with the younger Irish man through 7 1/2 rounds, before John sent him to the canvas for the full count in the eighth and final. Duddy would have three more fights in 2005, none of which were against any meaningful opponents, for a total of 7.
Duddy would start 2006, with a Boston appearance against Julio Jean. This would be his first 10-round bout and a good test of stamina. The fight would go the distance, with the judges awarding the victory to Duddy, 100-90100-9099-91.
March 16, 2006, would see Irish Ropes pack the Theater at Madison Square Garden for their first professional show as a promoter. With the vacant WBC Continental Americas Middleweight title on the line, Duddy would devastate Shelby Pudwill in the first round to the thunderous roar of his now growing Irish following.
By early June Duddy would again be climbing between the ropes at MSG , John would defend his WBC title against Alfredo “Freddy” Cuevas. Scheduled for 12, John would unloaded a brutal attack that would soon have his opponent bleeding profusely from the bridge of his nose. Alfredo’s corner would throw in the towel saving their fighter from further injury. Duddy chalked up victory # 17.
Sep. 29th 2006, Duddy meets Yory Boy
Wherever John Duddy goes from here, he will most likely never forget the fight that turned him from an interesting prospect to a contender. Almost three years to the day from when John made his pro debut he would step back into the now familiar ring at Madison Square Garden to face Mexican national Yory Boy Campas.
This was new ground for Duddy, a step up; a step he needed to make. Yory coming in with some 96 fights on his pro record, 88 victories, 72 by K0, would test the will and the stamina of the younger Duddy as never before. Yory Boy had traded leather with the likes of the great Oscar de la Hoya, Felix Trinidad and notable others.
John Duddy knew very well who Yory Boy was and what he had achieved. But Yory had never heard of the young fighter from the North of Ireland who was trying to make his mark.
With his adoring fans chanting him on, Duddy would open with an explosive first round performance. It was short lived as the veteran soon found one of Duddy’s notable weaknesses. It has become obvious to many that Duddy has a defensive weakness. When in pursuit of a quick knock out he often leaves himself open. Leaving himself open to an experienced fighter like Yory would cost Duddy.
By the end of the second round it was looking like Duddy was in some trouble. He had been rocked by Campas and was sporting a nasty cut over his left blinker. Campas would continue the attack through the fifth, balancing Duddy with equally as nasty a gash over his right blinker. Duddy looked drained as he sat on his stool between rounds while his cut man, George Mitchell, worked quickly to plug to flow of blood flowing from John’s injuries.
John somehow managed to pull from his own experiences and began to turn the tide on Campas. Into the eighth and ninth rounds, Duddy would throw caution to the wind in an effort to try and sway the judges in his favor. But the experienced Yory would pull from his reserves in the last minutes of this brutal 12 round bout and would again rock Duddy leaving his fans speechless. John struggled and again had to dig deep to stay on his feet.
With the fans in awe of the fight, the war, they had just witnessed there was an airy uncertainty. Had their man Duddy done enough to take the victory over Yory, and also claim title to the IBA Middleweight belt that was also on the line?
Relief, follow by thunders roars, was the reaction when the ring announcer proclaimed Duddy the winner. There is no question that Duddy had dodged the bullet on this night. There was no question that he had the heart of a true fighter; he had the will to survive.
John paid the price early in the fight by not sticking with the pre-fight plan, to use his jab and work the body. Not using the jab let Campas in to inflict damage early on Duddy.
2007
Duddy would take his time to recover and reflect on his experience with the veteran. We would not see him back in the ring until March of 07.
Anthony “The Bullet” Bonsante, who found his fame as a featured fighter on the somewhat popular TV show “The Contender”, would face John in the Second Annual Irish Ropes St. Patrick’s Day show at Madison Square Garden. Duddy’s layoff would show on this night; John looked rusted. Regardless, he would claim the victory [fight report available
here].
May 18, 2007 - For this, his final scheduled US bout for 07, things did not go exactly the way John and Irish Ropes had hoped. They had wanted to go out in style using the same explosive style and early knockout excitement that drew such a following to this charismatic fighter.
Duddy controls early in the first, sending his somewhat awkward opponent Dupre Strickland to the mat. However, Strickland would find his legs and continue.
On to the second, Strickland would find the opening that Duddy shows often. Duddy would get tagged; blood showing from his right eye. George Mitchell would have to tend to the cut several times throughout the bout. Duddy would spend most of the fight hunting down Strickland.
This was just a mess. Duddy deserves better opponents than this and so do his fans. John took a major step forward with Yory Boy, Bonsante was respectable, but Stickland was definitely a step back. Although Duddy has come a long way and is well attended by his Irish fans in the greater New York area, he will also need to start fighting outside his comfort zone, Madison Square Garden, to further gain the attention of the general boxing audience.
Duddy heads home to Ireland
It will be interesting to see how things develop in Ireland. There has been much talk and speculation on who Duddy will face in July. Will Irish Ropes, keep their ship in safe waters and away from “The Rock”?
That being said, of course all of Ireland and all us lost souls
abhus-anseo[over here] will be looking to see a match up with Jim Rock and Duddy. If not, at least Matt Macklin should be a consideration. Interesting times ahead. After his press conference next week in Ireland John will return to New York to attend a charity function for his foundation
Stay tuned for the next chapter on “Ireland’s” John Duddy.
Photo/Rally America
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