Boxing: Luckless Duddy eyes final shot at Pavlik date
John Duddy will be hoping to make up for lost time when he takes on Mexico's Michi Munoz at Madison Squre Garden on Saturday
Thursday October 08 2009
THESE have not been particularly good times for John Duddy, who could well earn the title 'The World's Unluckiest Boxer.'
Eight months ago, the Derry middleweight was in line for a world title fight with the American, Kelly Pavlik after boxing his way to a unanimous points decision over contender Matt Vanda at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank was ready to sign a deal for a summer clash with Pavlik if Duddy won several more bouts to qualify for the championship fight. What happened? Duddy blew his chance in his next fight when he was outpunched and outfought by the unheralded Billy Lyell in New Jersey in April, and Arum simply tore up the contract.
Lyell's trainer Jack Lowe, who also coaches Pavlik, said at the time: "This proves what I've been saying all along. If Duddy had been in there with Pavlik, he would have gotten killed!"
It was the second time Arum cancelled a likely Duddy-Pavlik title fight. Last year the promoter had drawn up a €1m contract for a June clash, only for Duddy to blow it with a poor winning performance against another no-hoper in Walid Smichet, a Canadian-based Tunisian, in New York.
Smichet, considered a safe opponent, exposed Duddy's limitations by repeatedly breaking through his defence. Worse still, the unimpressive Duddy finished the 10-rounder with a badly cut left eye, prompting Arum to look elsewhere for a Pavlik contender.
Duddy now gets another chance, this time back in Madison Square Garden on Saturday when he meets Mexico's Michi Munoz in a scheduled 10-rounder. Munoz has 21 wins and three losses, against Duddy's 26 wins and one defeat
"I'm prepared to give Duddy another chance but he must win, and win decisively, as well as coming through unscathed," said Arum in New York yesterday. "John is an exciting fighter and a good draw but he has to build up some good wins and then we will talk about Pavlik and a world title shot."
Dispute
Duddy has had his problems outside the ring caused by a long-running legal dispute with his former promotional team Irish Ropes, based in New York. But he now has a new advisor, Craig Hamilton, and his former trainer Harry Keitt is also back. They are confident they can land a world title fight in 2010.
"John is in great shape," Hamilton said yesterday. "He wants to re-establish himself as a viable contender in the world middleweight rankings, and the Munoz fight is the first step towards that aim. It is essentially a make-or-break fight for him.
"Make no mistake about it. John is a world-class fighter. He has just been unlucky. I'm convinced the best is yet to come from him."
"My problems with my former management are over," said Duddy. "I feel the future for me is as bright as it always was. I'm now looking forward to getting back into the ring on Saturday and hopefully it will be a good win for me. I can't wait."
SHORT JABS
POONSAWAT Kratingdaenggym, who knocked out Bernard Dunne in three rounds just two weeks ago, is prepared to give the Dubliner a return fight -- although it is very unlikely if Dunne, who is resting until the new year when he will decide his future, wants it.
"I would be open to a return fight," the Thai said in Bangkok yesterday. "Dunne is only 29 and has been a world and European champion, and I don't see any reason why he should retire just yet, unless he wants to. That's a decision for him, not the pundits."
- Thomas Myler
Irish Independent
