Andy Lee, John Duddy: Both Decline Matthew Macklin Offer

By Mark Vester

According to promoter Brian Peters, he recently made a lucrative two-fight deal to stage an all-Irish middleweight showdown between John Duddy and Andy Lee on New Year's Day in Ireland. The winner would then face Matthew Macklin on March 19. Peters tells the Derry Journal that his "six figure sum was rejected by the managerial advisers for both fighters, but he plans to continue his pursuit.

“What I offered was six figure sums for Andy Lee to fight John Duddy on New Year’s Day in Limerick and the winner had to fight Matthew Macklin on March 19th which is the night of the Ireland versus England rugby match, which would be two years to the night of Bernard Dunne’s and Ricardo Cordoba’s world title fight. But unfortunately both sides declined,” confirmed Peters

“They didn't go for it which was a bit disappointing. It was kind of a two fight deal but we'll see. Whether we just end up with Andy Lee fighting John Duddy, that’s still a fight I'd love to put on and it's a fight the fans would like to see happen. All these fights are talked about and talked about and they never happen. But they have to happen, that's what these guys do - they fight. It's the perfect time for both of them."

Duddy’s manager, Craig Hamilton, told the paper that he did receive an offer from Peters, but he refused the deal because he didn't want to tie his fighter up until the mid-March.

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com