By Rick Reeno

Promoter Lou DiBella was one of the countless figures in the industry who was shocked by the unexpected retirement of John Duddy (29-2, 18Kos). Duddy was booked to face countryman Andy Lee (24-1, 18Kos) in an HBO televised co-feature on March 12 at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. One of DiBella’s star fighters, Sergio Martinez, faces Sergei Dzinziruk in the HBO televised main event. Duddy, no longer feeling the desire to fight, announced his retirement on Tuesday.

“Obviously I’m disappointed but I’ve known John Duddy since he was a young fighter, and I respect his decision and a lot of lesser men would have gone through the motions to pick up the payday, but he didn’t want to perpetrate a fraud on HBO and the public – and that says a lot about his character. I wish him all the best in whatever he does in the future. When you lose your passion and lose your desire to fight, then the right thing to do is retire, so he has my respect and my best wishes,” DiBella told BoxingScene.com.

Duddy’s unexpected retirement leaves an obvious hole on DiBella’s HBO date. The New York promoter is already working the phones to find a suitable replacement. The first boxer he approached was Peter Manfredo Jr., but there isn’t enough time for Manfredo to properly prepare. Manfredo decisioned Daniel Edouard last Friday in Key West, Florida, and took a few lumps along the way.

Presently, DiBella is attempting to secure undefeated Scottish boxer Craig McEwan (19-0, 10Kos), who is trained by Freddie Roach. McEwen is being positioned for a keep-busy fight on Amir Khan’s non-televised undercard on April 16 in Manchester. But, an HBO televised fight, and his biggest career payday, might be enough to change McEwen's plans.

“I contacted Peter Manfredo, but he got touched up in his victory last Friday and he can’t get ready…..go to camp quickly enough to be ready by March 12th. I’m looking at Craig McEwen, the undefeated Scottish kid that Freddie Roach trains at the Wild Card. He’s 19-0. I think the storyline is great with the Irishman versus the Scottishman, and they were both great amateurs. That’s the fight I’m pursuing,” DiBella said.