Duddy-Bonsante headlines St. Patrick’s Day Eve show at MSG

NEW YORK CITY- Despite frigid temperatures and heavy snowstorms, Anthony “The Bullet” Bonsante has been training hard in Minnesota for his March 16 title fight against IBA World and WBC Continental Americas middleweight champion “Ireland’s” John Duddy in the 12-round main event on the “Erin Go Brawl” pay-per-view live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The Contender Season I star Bonsante (29-8-2, 17 KOs), reigning IBA Americas and Minnesota State middleweight title-holder, realizes that he is a clear underdog fighting Duddy (18-0, 15 KOs), rated No. 7 by the WBO and No. 9 by the WBA, on St. Patrick’s Day Eve in New York City. Bonsante, however, remains undaunted in his belief that he’ll upset Duddy.

“Training has been going okay but some things could have been better,” Bonsante said. “Two weeks ago it was 40-below zero and we’ve been getting tons of snow the last few days. I love Minnesota and training here only makes me stronger and angry. I wouldn’t have it any other way. (Bonsante’s trainer) Lisa (Bauch) and Bill (Kaehn) have devised a strategy and instructed me what to do. We’ve worked on a couple of things but all can change when you get in the ring.

“Duddy’s quick, strong and he loves to fight. He’s going to bring it and so am I. We could put this fight in a phone booth. I’m expecting his best and that’s what he’s going to get from me. I can’t wait. It’s going to be a great fight.”

“Erin Go Brawl,” presented by Irish Ropes Promotions, will be broadcast live in North America on cable and satellite pay-per-view starting at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT. The event is being produced and distributed for pay-per-view by Integrated Sports and will be available in more than 50-million homes in North America via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the USA, as well as Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. The full “Erin Go Brawl”

PPV broadcast will be available to viewers outside of North America via streaming video subscription on www.secondsout.com.

Unbeaten middleweight contender Giovanni Lorenzo faces veteran Robert “The Doctor” Kamya in the 10-round co-feature. Lorenzo (22-0, 14 KOs), the 2000 Dominican Olympian, lives in Washington Heights (in New York City) and is rated No. 6 by the WBC and No. 11 by the WBA and IBF. Ugandan-native Kamya (15-6, 4 KOs), now fighting out of Palm Beach (FL), is trained by former world champion Johnny Bumphus.

Unbeaten middleweight prospect “Irish” Andy Lee, 2004 Irish Olympian, fights TBA (Lee’s original opponent Cleiton “Soul Man” Conceicao lost last weekend and is out) in a six-round bout. Lee (7-0, 4 KOs) is now fighting out of Detroit by way of Limerick, Ireland.

KELTIC DREAMS Fundraiser March 15 at Mustang Harry’s

The site for the March 15th “Meet The Warriors of Boxing fundraiser for the benefit of KELTIC DREAMS, sponsored by Irish Ropes Promotions and The John Duddy Charitable Foundation, has moved to Mustang Harry’s on 30th and 7th Streets in Manhattan.
For a suggested $50.00 donation the public will meet an array of boxing stars from the past and present at Jack Demsey’s between 5-8 PM.

Invited stars include Hall of Fame boxers Barry “The Clones Cyclone” McGuigan (32-3, 28 KOs), former WBA featherweight champion, and ex-world middleweight title-holder Jake “Raging Bull” LaMotta (83-19-4, 30 KOs), as well as former world heavyweight title challenger “Gentleman” Gerry Cooney former WBC featherweight champ Juan LaPorte (40-17, 22 KOs), past WBU light welterweight champion “Irish” Micky Ward (38-13, 27 KOs), ex-WBA welterweight king and 1984 Olympic gold medallist Mark Breland (35-3-1, 25 KOs), former world champion in three weight classes Iran “The Blade” Barkley (43-19-1, 28 KOs), ex-world middleweight title-holder Vito Antuofermo (50-7-2, 21 KOs), (28-3, 24 KOs), and Irish heavyweight champion Kevin “The Clones Colossus” McBride (34-5-1, 29 KOs).

All proceeds from the “Meet The Warriors of Boxing” event will go to KELTIC DREAMS to send 34 African-American and Hispanic Irish dancers from PS 59 in the Bronx, ages seven through 12, to perform May 23-28 in Ireland. KELTIC DREAMS is the first after-school program of its kind in a public school.

Also fighting on “Erin Go Brawl” is world-rated super featherweight Maureen “The Real Million Dollar Baby” Shea (9-0, 4 KOs) versus an opponent to be determined, unbeaten heavyweight James Clancy (9-0, 1 KO) tangles with upset-minded Rodney Ray (3-4-1, 3 KOs), cruiserweight Mark Clancy (6-0-1, 1 KO) meets Andrew “Came To Fight” Hutchinson (2-8-2) – the Clancy brothers are from Clare, Ireland and fight out of Boston — and 2004 Irish National Senior amateur champion Henry Coyle makes his pro debut against TBA. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.

For more information about “Erin Go Brawl” call Irish Ropes Promotions at 212.835.1582 or go on line to www.irishropes.com