February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
“Like old times again,” Duddy remarked on his reunion with Keitt and the return to Gleason’s, where he prepared for some of his fights earlier in his career.
That was before Keitt was cut by Duddy’s then brain trust, Irish Ropes in May 2007. The Brooklynite was replaced by Don Turner who in turn gave way to Pat Burns.
But after Duddy’s shock split decision loss to Billy Lyell five months, the Miami-based Burns was let go and Keitt brought back by the Irishman’s new advisors to rekindle the magic that took Duddy to 20-0 and world middleweight title contender status.
The two got down to work last week working on Duddy’s much-maligned defense with sparring scheduled to begin this week. There’s also a possibility that Team Duddy will switch camp this week to the Poconos.
“If not we’ll just stay at Gleason’s,” Duddy said.
Keitt said his once again charge was coming along fine after their first few days together.
“I wish he could have gotten back sooner, but we’ll do what we can do under the circumstances,” the trainer added.
At any rate, no stone is being left unturned in their preparations including studying footage of Munoz, a 21-3 [14 KOs] Mexican-born prospect who fights out of Topeka, Kansas.
“He’s typical Mexican, he comes straight forward. Should be an exciting encounter,” Duddy, a banger [26-1, 17 KOs] himself, remarked.
Keitt sees Munoz’ body as being key to a Duddy victory.
“He can’t take body shots,” he said of the fighter nick-named “El Matador” [The Killer].
Ticket information for Duddy-Munoz is available from Greg McIntrye at (917) 528-7379, Barney Moore at (917) 559-8467 or from www.duddyboxing.com .
O’CONNOR BOUT
Unbeaten New England light welterweight Danny O’Connor [8-0, 2 KOs] squares off with Patrick “Raging Bull” Cape (6-7, 3 KOs) in the 8th annual “Fight To Educate” pro boxing card at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire tonight.
Tickets are $10 [seniors, veterans and students only], $25 and $50 and available online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling (6030 868-7300. Visit www.fight2educate.com for more information.
DUNNE DEFENSE
In Dublin, Bernard Dunne makes his first defense of the WBA super bantamweight crown against Thailand’s Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym at The O2 arena this Saturday.
Once based in Los Angeles, Dunne [28-1, 15 KOs] won the title off Panamanian Ricardo Cordoba in an epic match in Dublin last March. The hard punching Poonsawat [39-1, 27 KOs] also holds a win over Cordoba and is confident of dethroning Dunne.
The “Hunky Dorys World Title Fight Night” undercard includes 6-foot-seven heavyweight Tyson Fury, who represented Ireland as an amateur and counts Andy Lee as a cousin.
Irish and IBF International featherweight champ Patrick Hyland and former Irish lightweight titlist Oisin Fagan will also appear in separate bouts.