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By Thomas Gerbasi - If John Duddy’s boxing career was a play, June 26th would be the beginning of Act III.
That’s the night the pride of Derry steps into the ring at the Alamodome in San Antonio to face unbeaten, but untested Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and if he should emerge victorious, he will have truly begun the resurrection process on his rollercoaster career.
And while it’s not too often that a fighter with a 29 wins, a single loss by split decision, and a rabid following in his home country of Ireland and in his adopted hometown of New York City would have his career described as a rollercoaster, but that’s where the 30-year old stands today, though you would hardly guess it by his demeanor as the biggest fight of his life approaches.
There could be a few reasons for that. It could just be that Duddy is the type of young man who refuses to look at the negative side of anything, a trait that has served him well in and out of the ring. Or maybe it’s because he’s turned the corner on his career, returning to his original trainer Harry Keitt while straightening out the managerial issues that could have crippled his career. Or perhaps most likely is that he is getting a Pay-Per-View main event against a fighter many believe doesn’t have the right stuff to survive the type of dog fight Duddy will love to drag him into in a little over a week.
That’s worth at least a smile or two.
“I look at it like this,” said Duddy after a recent press luncheon in New York City. “I’m going into waters where I’ve been before and I think that the world is more focused on Julio than myself. I’m there to do my job and do what I’m good at and what I enjoy doing, and it’s up to him to have the answers. I know that this is gonna be a great fight and the toughest and hardest fight of his career, and if I have my way, it’s gonna be one of the hardest fights of my career as well, but I’m looking forward to it, and I can’t wait for it to happen. On the night, whatever which way it will go, everybody knows what I’m bringing and they’re gonna get it, and we’ll answer the question whether he has it or not.” [Click Here To Read More]
That’s the night the pride of Derry steps into the ring at the Alamodome in San Antonio to face unbeaten, but untested Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and if he should emerge victorious, he will have truly begun the resurrection process on his rollercoaster career.
And while it’s not too often that a fighter with a 29 wins, a single loss by split decision, and a rabid following in his home country of Ireland and in his adopted hometown of New York City would have his career described as a rollercoaster, but that’s where the 30-year old stands today, though you would hardly guess it by his demeanor as the biggest fight of his life approaches.
There could be a few reasons for that. It could just be that Duddy is the type of young man who refuses to look at the negative side of anything, a trait that has served him well in and out of the ring. Or maybe it’s because he’s turned the corner on his career, returning to his original trainer Harry Keitt while straightening out the managerial issues that could have crippled his career. Or perhaps most likely is that he is getting a Pay-Per-View main event against a fighter many believe doesn’t have the right stuff to survive the type of dog fight Duddy will love to drag him into in a little over a week.
That’s worth at least a smile or two.
“I look at it like this,” said Duddy after a recent press luncheon in New York City. “I’m going into waters where I’ve been before and I think that the world is more focused on Julio than myself. I’m there to do my job and do what I’m good at and what I enjoy doing, and it’s up to him to have the answers. I know that this is gonna be a great fight and the toughest and hardest fight of his career, and if I have my way, it’s gonna be one of the hardest fights of my career as well, but I’m looking forward to it, and I can’t wait for it to happen. On the night, whatever which way it will go, everybody knows what I’m bringing and they’re gonna get it, and we’ll answer the question whether he has it or not.” [Click Here To Read More]
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