John Duddy annouces retirement...

[STREET CLEANER]

Chavez Jr retired him

[PВ32]

Anyone got a source to this? Or a link to Rafeals statement about it?

[Irish Hitman]

Sad day for Irish boxing fans..Duddy my favourite Irish fighter...but its good too. Duddy has taken too much punishment in his career..he has to think about his health... I dont wanna say it but Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr took the last bit of petrol outta Duddys tank.

[ИATAS]

wow that's pretty shocking. I thought duddy at the very least was a solid stepping stone kind of guy who already came to fight.

maybe the smart thing, he ate a ton of punches and he wont last long.

also could be somethings behind the scenes, maybe he learned of some health issues, as we all thought he was signed to fight Andy Lee.

[ИATAS]

John Duddy calls time on boxing career
Tuesday, 18 January 2011 23:04

John Duddy has announced that he is retiring from boxing after turning down a reported purse 'in excess of $100,000' to fight compatriot Andy Lee in March.

The battle of the Irish middleweights was scheduled to take place in Connecticut on the undercard of the Sergio Martinez versus Serhiy Dzinziruk bout on 12 March.

The Derry Destroyer released a statement on Tuesday confirming that he had retired after 'a great deal of soul-searching' and stated that his decision is final stating, 'I give you my word; I will not come back'.

Duddy's decision, once again, leaves Andy Lee without a fight after the Limerick boxer's last scheduled bout was cancelled when the Wladimir Klitschko world title fight with Dereck Chisora was postponed.

The statement released by Duddy read: 'After 'a great deal of soul-searching, I have decided to retire from boxing.

'In many ways, continuing to fight would be the easy course of action. I have been offered the opportunity to fight Andy Lee on HBO for a purse in excess of $100,000. A win would put me in position to fight for a world championship. This is not an opportunity that I cast aside lightly.

'For more than twenty years, I loved being a boxer. I still feel that it's an enormous honor to be a boxer. But I don't love it anymore.

'I no longer have the enthusiasm and willingness to make the sacrifices that are necessary to honor the craft of prizefighting. I used to love going to the gym. Now it's a chore. I wish I still had the hunger, but I don't. The fire has burned out. And I know myself well enough to know that it won't return.

'It would be unfair to my fans, my trainer and manager, and everyone else involved in the promotion of my fights for me to continue boxing when I know that my heart isn't in it. I've always given one hundred percent in the gym and in my fights. I have too much respect for boxing and the people around me to continue fighting when I know that I can't do that anymore.

'I haven't accomplished everything that I wanted to achieve in boxing. But I've had a rewarding career. I've enjoyed the satisfaction of winning twenty-nine professional fights and learned lessons from my two losses. I've experienced the thrill of fighting in Madison Square Garden, Cowboys Stadium, and, also, my beloved Ireland with crowds cheering for me. I look forward to finding future challenges that bring as much passion and joy into my life as boxing has over the past twenty years.

'I give you my word; I will not come back.'

[MikeRo1972]

I didn't mean to come off harsh. I think the kid always brought 100% to his fights. Hinprevious management company signed him to Alot of brutal fights and didn't compensate him well. I hope he sticks around, he can be a good gate keeper type fighter. No need to put him in with monsters...I thought Duddy vs Yuri Foreman could have been a great fight stylistically for him. I wish him well.

[武士道]

Duddy v Smichet, with Jim Watt's commentary -- I hate to admit it, but it‘s a favourite of mine. Laters John.

[alonsomosely]

Chavez Jr retired him

Silly silly boy you are to say something like this