Duddy wins early and targets world belt holders

John Duddy opened his New Year account with a routine first round stoppage and is targeting a showdown with one of the belt holders at middleweight. The popular Derryman blitzed overmatched Mexican Juan Astorga in 115-seconds at Madison Square Garden, New York on Saturday 23rd January.

 

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, manager Craig Hamilton is optimistic that his charge can land a crack at the type of recognisable name that has been lacking from his CV since Howard Eastman, in 2007.

 

“The world champions are not available at the moment,” Hamilton told David Kelly, “but we have options with John and in this business you never know when the next chance will come along. We were offered a world light-middleweight title fight but John is a middleweight and will not be boxing below 160llb.”

 

Duddy’s sole professional conqueror Billy Lyell fights Sebastian Sylvester on Saturday 30^th January for the IBF middleweight title, after original challenger Pablo Navascues failed a doping test. John will meet a yet unnamed opponent on the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey undercard on March 13th.

 

The lack of opponent at this stage does not worry the 28-1 (18 KO’s) man who is back with former trainer Harry Keitt, following spells with Don Turner and Pat Burns respectively.

 

Duddy added: “I don’t know who I’ll be fighting but I’ll be straight back into the gym with Harry Keitt and I’m looking forward to it. Craig [Hamilton] will be working on my next opponent and whoever it is, bring him on.”

 

A fight with domestic rival Neil Sinclair has been mentioned on more than one occasion and Sinclair has admitted that he would relish such an encounter. However, it would appear that Duddy’s management team are keeping him warm on the US undercards while waiting for a big money spinning shot at one of the world belts on offer.

 

With his undoubted ticket selling abilities, it is hardly surprising that the 30-year-old has been matched relatively soft of late, masking any perceived defensive frailties. As John is at, or around, his peak he would surely agree that the time is right for a move up in class before the opportunity passes him by.