Duddy to make Irish debut in July

Boxing:John Duddy's first professional bout in Ireland will take place on July 14th at the National Stadium in Dublin, the scene of so many of the Derryman's amateur fights, but the middleweight's opponent has yet to be confirmed.

The New York based fighter promises fireworks on the night and is confident of improving on his 20 straight wins -15 by knock-out - which have won him so many fans in the US.

That record has been honed over a period of three-and-a-half years against an array of fighters. Some worthy opponents, some clearly not.

The hope is that Bernard Dunne's promoter Brian Peters can, in conjunction with Duddy's own team Irish Ropes, organise a wily opponent who will test the Derry fighter and bring his profile in Ireland and Europe to another level.

It was expected that British middleweight Steven Bendall would fit the bill but he backed down after seeing a video of Duddy, according to Peters.

He was, therefore, unable to name names this afternoon, when introducing Duddy to the Irish press on board the Jeanie Johnston on Dublin's Custom House Quay. However, he promised a capable opponent. Well, sort of.

"There's two guys I have in mind but they're due to fight in the next two weeks," said Peters, before adding that it will be a "credible opponent", who has fought top fighters like Finland's European champion Amin Asikainen.

"Then again it's John's first fight back here, a homecoming, so I think it's probably a bit more about that."

Such sentiments might not exactly get the blood racing but it could be the logical approach to take for a fighter whose critics have accused him taking too many punches. Duddy, too, seems acutely aware that a fighter can move too quickly in this game.

He is confident of winning on his return but the affable 27-year-old doesn't think he's ready for a European title bout just yet, let alone a world title shot at Jermain Taylor. However, both are clearly long term goals.

His camp has already turned down a lucrative offer from Taylor's team to fight in Madison Square Garden, preferring to test the water in Dublin first then perhaps plan an eventual tilt at Aiskainen's title after two fights at home.

"I know myself personally that there's a few more fights I think before I reach that level," said Duddy today. "That's why I think ... coming back and fighting in Ireland, and hopefully opening up an avenue to fight for a European title in the future, is the next logical step for me to improve my experience as a fighter."

That second fight would ideally be against Jim Rock for the Irish title. Peters would have liked that to happen this time around but there were too many obstacles. For now he is focused on the first step of a hopefully fruitful journey that will see a Point Theatre or King's Hall appearance ahead of a European title bout.

In the short term, though, Duddy will return to New York and to the Far Rockaway Gym in Long Island where he trains under the watchful eyes of Eddie, Tony and Martin McLoughlin, the three Mayo brothers who re-ignited his love of boxing.

He will also meet up with new trainer Don Turner who masterminded Evander Holyfield's two wins over Mike Tyson and who will aim to turn Duddy into a tidier boxer capable of stepping up a notch or two over the summer.

When he returns in July, Duddy will join fellow Derryman Paul McCloskey, Belfast heavyweight Kevin O'Hara and Mayo's Declan Timlin on the fight card.

Tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster at 9 am tomorrow morning.