By Mark Vester

On the undercard to Wladimir Klitschko-Sultan Ibragimov at New York's Madison Square Garden, middleweight "Irish" John Duddy (24-0, 17KOs) won an unpopular ten-round majority decision over hand-picked opponent Walid Smichet (17-4-3, 13KOs). The scores were 95-95, 98-92 and 98-92.

According to ringside observers, Duddy struggled, badly at times, and took punishment against an opponent he should have taken out before the decision. Duddy is in line for a title shot at WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (33-0, 29KOs) on June 7, also at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Pavlik is serious step up in class for Duddy, who was a huge underdog to begin with in the fight, and his recent performance with Smichet will make him an even bigger underdog. HBO is expected to televise the event. Because it falls on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, Top Rank is expected to load the undercard with Puerto Rican fighters, such as Ivan Calderon and Juan Manuel Lopez.