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Burns praises Duddy efforts at Miami camp

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

He broke camp yesterday to attend a press conference at Madison Square Garden officially announcing his Feb. 21 scrap with Matt “The Predator” Vanda there.
And Maureen Shea, with County Kerry roots on her father’s side, has also been added to the Top Rank card at the Garden. She’ll square off with Peruvian-born Australian Kina Malpartida for the vacant WBA 130-pound world title.
The good news for Duddy fans is that the Derry Destroyer [25-0, 17 KOs] is shaping up well under the tutelage of ex-marine Pat Burns in Florida after an eight-month lay-off.
“The first week [Burns] threw me in the deep end,” Duddy said from Miami on Sunday. “I dealt very well with it and I think I surprised him. Another week or two and I’ll be ready to go.”
Burns, who took charge of the middleweight sensation’s corner last May, was indeed pleased with Duddy’s effort.
“We had an outstanding week – lots of hard work – and he responded well and did everything asked of him enthusiastically,” the trainer said. “Fortunately, John came in great shape.”
Duddy, who’s already within five pounds of the 160-pound middleweight limit, started sparring last Friday.
Burns declined to comment on talk of a possible Duddy-Kelly Pavlik world title match at the Garden in June, should both men emerge victorious on February 21.
Pavlik, the WBC and WBO middleweight champion, will defend both titles against Marco Antonio Rubio in Youngstown, Ohio, the same night. Spectators at the Garden will be able to see the live broadcast of the Pavlik-Rubio fight.
“I’m not even giving any thought to what’s being said about John. I can’t look past what’s in front of us,” Burns said.
World title fight or not, Duddy is taking no chances against the [39-8, 22 KOs] Vanda, an opponent he was supposed to fight on a few occasions previously.
“Vanda is a tough guy,” Duddy observed. “I’ve studied tapes of him before and have a good idea of how I’ll fight him.”
TICKET ALERT
Tickets for the Garden show, whose main event will be Miguel Cotto’s welterweight title tilt vs. Britain’s Michael Jennings, are pegged at $500, $300, $200, $100, and $50.
Sources include Barney Moore at (917) 559-8467, Greg McIntyre at (917) 528-7379, the Heritage Bar in the Bronx and the following establishments in Queens: Connolly’s Corner, O’Neill’s, Fiddlers, Byre and Bar 43.

SHEA MOMENT
Five years into her pro career, undefeated Maureen Shea [13-0, 7 KOs] finally gets her wish in the Mecca of boxing.
“It’s about time. I’ve always wanted a title fight,” said the Bronx native, who goes by the moniker, “The Real Million Dollar Baby.”
Her fight with Kina Malpartida [8-3, 1 KO] is scheduled for ten rounds and based on her meticulous preparation alone, Shea should enter the ring a massive favorite to capture the WBA belt.
“I’ve been in the gym since my last fight, doing strength and conditioning,” Shea remarked.
She’s been working with two coaches on both coasts: Vincent Sullivan on the East and Robert Ferguson, a cardio vascular specialist, in California. The 28 year-old is now in the final stage of her preps under head boxing trainer Hector Roca.
“I’m looking forward to the next three weeks,” Shea said.
Her last fight was a first round TKO of Ellsha Cleffman in Yonkers last September. Malpartida, meanwhile, is on a two-match losing streak.

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