Interview by Michael Norby: As he prepares for what promises to be a hectic 2007, IBA middleweight title-holder John Duddy has vowed not to get drawn into any more unnecessary wars. The Irishman stands on the precipice of becoming a genuine world championship contender and looks to get back to basics with trainer Harry Keitt, in an attempt to throw his name into the big picture by 2008.
In his last outing, Duddy, 18-0 (15KO), threw his playbook out the window and allowed himself to be pulled into the trenches enroute to a tight but unanimous decision victory over ’Yory Boy’ Campas in September.
Yet, as a veteran of 130 contests in a prolific amateur career, Duddy knows that he has what it takes to couple the outstanding boxing skills that made him so successful as a young boxer in Ireland, with his fearsome power.
The immensely likeable Irishman told SecondsOut, “In my amateur days I was more of a boxer. I used my brain and used my combinations, but when I came to New York I wanted to learn something new and my trainer Harry [Keitt] taught me something different, but he knows that I can box too.”
He added, “Unfortunately when I get in the ring I like to scrap and now they’re mentioning Arturo Gatti along with my name. ’Yory Boy’ Campas was able to bring that out in me.”
Prior to the Campas fight, Duddy boxed beautifully in a close-to-perfect outing against tough veteran Freddy Cuevas – painting the Chicago veteran with brutal combinations, set up by a laser jab, on his way to an eighth round stoppage. Duddy displayed offensive mastery that night in New York and seemed to have silenced the critics who had charged that the Derryman was a puncher and little else.
Then along came the Campas fight, which reawakened the critics from their brief slumber. Gone was the patient, disciplined approach that was employed against Cuevas and back came the blustery, gung-ho Duddy looking for a knockout without completing the coursework.
He said, “He [Campas] was willing to stand toe to toe with me until the very last round. When I started boxing him from the fifth round on it made the fight easier for me. But then along came stubborn John in the 12th round, and I decided that I was going to knock him out. But he was there waiting for me and that’s his style.”
He added, “In the end it was an education for me and I’ll be able to prove the next time out that I can use my jab, my hand speed, start breaking guys down and then take them out later in the fight.”
Duddy had been scheduled to fight again in New York on January 11th, but was advised by his doctor that a fight so soon would be unwise. He is still healing from three deep cuts – the scars of which decorate his eyes – compliments of Campas, and is prudently taking a cautious approach, making sure that he is in full fighting health before climbing through the ropes again in March.
“Everything is healing up great at the moment,” says Duddy. “I was scheduled to fight on January 11th but pulled out on the advice of the eye specialist. He said that there is a great possibility that the cuts would reopen again, so I’m looking at the big picture and I’m due to fight on our own [Irish Ropes] show on March 16th and I should be 100 per cent by then.”
He added, “There are a few names floating around and I’ll be ready no matter who the opponent is. It’s going to be another unbelievable night in Madison Square Garden.”
The coming year is going to be a crucial one for Duddy’s career. He is arguably the most marketable young fighter in the sport today and the networks will be licking their chops should Duddy continue to impress in 2007. The top men in the division will surely pop up on his radar by years end, yet he is under no illusions as to his current standing in the 160lb division though.
“I don’t think I stand in there at all,” said Duddy of the 160lb world championship picture. “My name is not up among the top guys yet and I still have a lot to learn, but I’m showing that I have the potential. I’m just looking forward to 2007, learning and making my way up the professional ranks.”
Duddy’s candor serves him well, and he respectfully refuses to make bold predictions of what lies ahead for the Jermain Taylor’s or Winky Wright’s if and when Duddy his shot. Asked to comment on whether he noticed any weaknesses in Taylor’s performance against the smaller Kassim Ouma last week, Duddy was short and to the point.
“The one thing you can say about Jermain Taylor is that goes out there and gets it done.” He continued, “Kassim Ouma would give anybody a hard time.”
Madison Square Garden, always sold out on a Duddy fight night, is fast becoming to the Irishman what Old Trafford is to Manchester United, or what Yankee Stadium is to the New York Yankees. It’s a fortress, a place where he feels safe and a place where thousands upon thousands of his fans have come expecting fireworks and expecting a win.
“New Yorkers have taken me under their wing,” said Duddy of his adoptive home. “They have made me one of their own and America as a whole is taking more notice of me. I’m thankful for that and I’m going to work hard to make sure that this momentum keeps going and I’m enthusiastic as is the whole team.”
As he tries to get back to fundamentals going forward, the next handful of fights are going to be very interesting for Duddy. His promoters, Irish Ropes have indicated recently that the level of opponents that he will face in 2007 is bound to get tougher.
The intriguing question is – what John Duddy will show up to fight said opponents? Will it be the blood and guts, defense neglecting brawler that treated us to a bonafide fight of the year candidate last time out? Will he deploy the patient, smarter approach? Can he be resistant of that warrior instinct to trade when he takes a heavy shot to the chin? I for one am looking forward to finding out.
