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John Duddy Wins Again
By Thomas Hauser
 June
11 was a big night for the Irish in boxing. In Washington, D.C., journeyman
Kevin McBride outlasted a fading Mike Tyson to put the final nail in Iron
Mike’s career coffin. But Tyson-McBride was about the past. The future of
boxing was on display at Madison Square Garden, where John Duddy of County
Derry continued his climb through the middleweight ranks.
Duddy fought Patrick Thompson in an eight-round bout on the undercard
of a title defense by World Boxing Organization 140-pound champion Miguel
Cotto. Cotto is a hero in his native Puerto Rico and the fights were held
on the eve of New York’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade.
“I’ve got a lot of Irish fans here,” Duddy said at the final pre-fight
press conference. “I hope, when the night is over, I’ll have a lot of Puerto
Rican fans on my side as well.”
He did.
Duddy had built a record of nine wins with nine knockouts in nine fights.
Thompson was his most difficult test as a pro, and John responded with his
best performance to date.
Duddy arrived at the arena two hours before fight time and sat quietly
in his dressing room. Neither he nor trainer Harry Keitt spoke as Keitt
taped Duddy’s fists.
“The entire day of a fight, I’m in a zone,” Duddy said afterward. “I
don’t like talking. I’m focusing on what has to be done. It’s like a dream,
really. The world gets narrower and narrower until all I see is the ring
and me and my opponent.”
When the taping was done, Duddy examined his fists the way a gunfighter
in the old West might have examined his guns. Then he went out and won every
minute of every round. All three judges scored the bout 80-72 in his favor.
“I don’t mind losing the knockout streak,” Duddy said when the fight
was over. “You get more respect from people when you prove you can go the
distance. I can go ten or twelve rounds in the gym, but I was glad to do
it in a fight.”
Duddy still has flaws. He doesn’t move his head enough, which enabled
Thompson to land lead right hands. He also stands upright and is disinclined
to bend at the knees, which leaves him susceptible to left hooks. That’s
part of what has led critics to contend that “Clan Duddy” is made up of
amateurs. But Keitt, Irish Ropes promoter Eddie McLoughlin, and advisor
Jim Borzell just keep doing their job.
“Everything is good,” Duddy said after the fight. “I’m on track; I’ve
gone eight rounds now; and I’ve won in Madison Square Garden.”
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