February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
“We got 10 rounds in so people can stop thinking he can’t go 10 rounds,” trainer Harry Keitt said after Duddy had pitched a virtual shutout against Julio Jean before 1,317 fans at the Castle at Park Plaza in Boston.
It was just the second time that the hard-punching Duddy had been taken the distance after his eight-round unanimous points win over Patrick Coleman at Madison Square Garden last June.
At 6-foot-2 inches and 164 pounds, Jean was the biggest man Duddy, a 6-foot middleweight warming up for a double-title shot at MSG on March 16, had ever faced. Still, the Haitian-born journeyman had to employ every trick in the book to survive a relentless assault by the Derry Destroyer. There were no knockdowns.
Ringside judges Leo Gerstel and John Madfis both scored the bout 100-90 for Duddy, giving him every round. The third official, Ken Voluvic had it 99-91, awarding Jean one stanza for his effort. It was the first time Duddy, who improved to 15-0 (13 KOs), had dropped a round as a pro.
Jean, who fights out of Wellington, Fla., fell to 7-7-1 (3 KOs).
“He was a worthy opponent. His record didn’t do him justice,” said Duddy on his return to New York. “It was a great experience (going) 10 rounds. I felt fresh and strong even in the last round.”
It wasn’t for lack of trying.
Duddy landed consistently to the body and rocked Jean several times with left hooks. However, Jean, a wily foe who switched repeatedly from orthodox to southpaw stances, survived by holding when he had to and running when necessary.
“He was backing up a lot and trying to catch me when I was coming in,” Duddy said. “He was a tough, durable opponent, slick and crafty. I learned more in this fight than I did in the 14 before it.”
“The knockout didn’t come but the victory did and that’s what matters,” Duddy added. “It was a fantastic workout. I’m happier going to the distance and very pleased with my fitness.”
Keitt, who has always insisted that Duddy trains to go the distance for every fight, liked what he saw, and gave his charge a ‘B’ grade for the performance.
“John looked good,” the trainer said. “The other guy was durable. He took a good punch and came to survive.”
Looking forward to March 16 when Duddy is scheduled to challenge for the World Boxing Association’s continental Americas belt and the New York State middleweight championship against the 21-2-1 (9 KOs) Shelby Pudwell, Keitt observed:
“It’s good he didn’t get the knockout. He needed the rounds for March 16. It’s going to be a crazy night and he’ll bring his ‘A’ game.”
Duddy handler Eddie McLoughlin and matchmaker Jim Borzell were equally delighted by the fighter’s showing.
“Great fight,” exclaimed McLoughlin. “The guy (Jean) was as sleek as a cumber.”
Said Borzell of Jean: “He’s a good fighter and I knew that going in. He taught John some stuff and John is the better for it.”
FAGAN TRIUMPHANT
Dubliner Oisin Fagan, warming up for his Oklahoma State lightweight title defense on February 25, outpointed Donald Cairns over four rounds in Russellville, Arkansas, last Saturday.
Fagan upped his record to 11-3 (7 KOs) with his second win in three weeks. He’d stopped John Huskey in two rounds on January 14.
He disclosed that his promoter, Stacy Goodson, had encouraged him to carry Cairns, now 0-2.
“Stacy told me that he wanted me to get as much work as possible in this fight, because my last few fights had ended so quickly. So he decided to add a little incentive to keep me working, which was to pay me by the round.”
Although his Feb. 25 opponent has yet to be confirmed, favorite to get the nod is the lanky Bobby “Sugar Daddy” Green who at 6-foot-3 will have a nine-inch height advantage over Fagan.
GOLDEN GLOVERS
Davey Kelly led the charge of Irish fighters in the 79th New York Daily News Golden Gloves amateur tournament.
The 6-foot-2 Tyrone native, who’s 23, knocked out Mohamed Habib in first round KO at the Yonkers PAL last week to make a winning start in the 165-pound novice competition.
He was joined in the next round by Westmeath’s Ronan Fagan, also a middleweight, who halted James Dale in two heats.
Tomas Maher from County Waterford was a unanimous points winner on his debut in the 152- pound novice division. Trained by Mickey Tohill, a former nine-time All Ireland featherweight champion and 1972 Munich Olympian, Maher outclassed Orrett Scafe 5-0.
NO QUIT
Keeping true to the title of his recently published autobiography “Don’t Quit!” Wayne McCullough is refusing to throw in the towel on his career after the Nevada Athletic Commission lifted his medical suspension last week.
The ban was imposed last July following his 10th round stoppage loss to WBC super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios.
McCullough (27-6, 18 KOs) must still prove that he’s fit enough to fight before regaining his boxing license.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the 35 year-old Belfastman has threatened go to court if the commission rules against him fighting in the future.
“My health is my top priority. I know what the risks are, but I’m healthy and I’m still able to do this,” he told the paper.
Whatever the outcome, trainer Freddie Roach who asked the referee to stop the Larios fight when he adjudged McCullough to be taking too much punishment, is out of the picture. He has parted company with the “Pocket Rocket.”
“Honestly, I don’t think he should fight anymore,” said Roach, who suffers from boxing-related Parkinson’s disease.
“After his last fight, when I stopped it, he was upset. But I had to do it because it was in his best interests. He’s a great guy and he’s had a great career, but it’s time to call it quits.”