“Life goes on,” said Irish Ropes president Eddie McLoughlin in New York on Sunday. “The show must go on.” McLoughlin said the New York State Athletic Commission [NYASC] had renewed his promoter’s license and he was “over the moon.”
“I’m the only show in town that weekend,” he boasted, alluding to the cancellation of a couple of other fight cards that had been planned in the city during St. Patrick’s Day week.
“I’ve spoken to Andy Lee in person and he’s delighted to be headlining the show. I’ve spoken to Manny [Lee’s manager-trainer Emanuel Steward] and he’s very happy as well,” McLoughlin added.
The County Mayo-born impresario is working hard to secure Smichet, the tough Canadian-Tunisian who pushed John Duddy to the brink at the Garden a year ago, for the once beaten Lee [16-1, 13 KOs].
“I personally would like [Lee] to fight Smichet who’s committed to the fight,” he said, adding that he hopes to seal the fight before next Wednesday’s official press conference at Jack Demsey’s in Manhattan.
Asked if his pursuit of Smichet [19-5, 14 K0s] as Lee’s opponent was an attempt to show Duddy up after his harrowing scrap with the Canadian-Tunisian in February 2008, McLoughlin replied emphatically:
“Not at all. I’m still partners with John, I’m still his promoter legally,” he said. “This is going to be an exciting fight and a fan friendly fight. It won’t be a stroll in the park for Andy.”
This will be the first Irish Ropes show without Duddy, its hitherto star charge who has sued to be released from his contract. The world-ranked middleweight has been allowed to continue with his ring career pending his lawsuit.