NEW YORK (December 19, 2006) – IBA World middleweight title-holder “Ireland’s” John Duddy, does not have a career-threatening detached retina, contrary to an erroneous report, and he pulled out of his scheduled January 11th fight in New York because cuts over his eyes, suffered September 29 in his title-winning fight against Luis Ramon “Yory Boy” Campas, haven’t completely healed.
Duddy (18-0, 15 KOs), rated No. 7 by the WBO and No. 9 by the WBA, is preparing to headline an Irish Ropes Promotions show March 16 – St. Patrick’s Day Eve – in The Theatre at Madison Square Garden that will be broadcast live all over the world, including on pay-per-view in North America.
“I’m not fighting January 11th on the advise of my eye specialist who didn’t want to risk the cuts being opened in sparring and jeopardizing my eyebrows,” Duddy explained. “He said the best thing to do was rest. I want to be 100-percent for March 16 and didn’t want to jeopardize my career.”
Born in Derry, Ireland and now fighting out Queens (NY), Duddy will train at the famed Gleason’s Gyn (NYC) before heading south at the end of January to open training camp in Florida. Duddy sold out (5,200 seats) The Theatre last St. Patrick’s Day Eve, knocking out Shelby Pudwill in the opening round.
“The fact it’s the night before St. Patrick’s Day and I’ve fought there twice before sellout crowds, Duddy noted, “I don’t think it’ll be any different this time. There’s also going to be a lot of young talent on the card. I think it’s going to be great for the Irish, people in New York City, and boxing fans all over the world watching me headline my first pay-per-view show. I think there was a sigh of relief back home, you know, when I pulled out of the January fight because so many people from Belfast, Derry and other towns in Ireland are coming here for the March 16 fight. They didn’t want anything to happen to me that could have jeopardized the March 16 show. Even if my fans can’t be here for that fight, they can watch it all over the world, in Irish pubs and homes. Everything worked out well for everybody this way. Happy days.”