Lee vs. Duddy? Could Happen

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Irish Voice Sport

Lee vs. Duddy? Could Happen

December 20, 2007

by Cathal Dervan

MINUTES after Andy Lee had added Jason McKay to the list of 12 losers already lined up on his 100% record as the bright young thing of Irish boxing, the legendary Emanuel Steward made a simple request in the press conference room at the National Stadium.

As the dance music blared from a 21st birthday downstairs, one of world boxing’s greatest trainers asked for a pint of Guinness.

“You have no idea how much that takes out of me, how nervous I get sitting at ringside and watching every move when Andy fights,” said Steward after the 13th straight win for the Limerick man.

Now Guinness does many things for many people, but it was the first time I’d come across it as cure for nerves.

“Do you like it?” I asked.

“I’ve not really tasted it all that much but I could do with a drink after that,” replied Steward.

Within a few minutes promoter Brian Peters ensured a pint of plain was sat in front of Steward as Lee answered questions about the past, the present and the future. Within a few more minutes Emmanuel had downed the pint with the precision of a man well used to Dublin’s finest export.

As he listened to those around him Steward nodded in agreement with the consensus that not alone is this a good time for Lee, it is a great time for Irish boxing as John Duddy, Bernard Dunne and the southpaw from Castletroy keep their names in the headlines.

His glass was half empty, but the glass that is the Irish fight game is more than half full.

“Irish boxing is going to be a real power in the world game over the coming years,” said Steward, a man with more world champions than hot dinners to his name.

“I know that from looking at the fighters coming through and from seeing the way we are treated when we come to Ireland. A decade from now you will have world champions and lots of them, trust me.”

In the meantime, we were curious to know how he felt about the prospective world championship hopes of Lee and his fellow middleweight Duddy, one based in Detroit and the other in New York. And could they ever fight for the world title and create a little piece of Irish boxing history?

“It can happen, and it can happen here in Ireland,” added Steward.

The likelihood, of course, is that Duddy will be the first Irishman up against world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, and the good news for the Derryman is that Steward fancies his chances in spite of the fact that popular opinion is to the contrary.

“We watched John’s fight against Howard Eastman. I thought John fought a good fight because Eastman is a very cagey, tricky guy. John has a big chance against Kelly Pavlik despite what people think,” Steward told us as the party continued downstairs in the Stadium.

“I know Kelly, I know what he has. John has a much better chance than he believes himself.”

If Steward’s words come true then Lee is the obvious opponent for Duddy in an All-Ireland match made in heaven.

“I can see that fight taking place in Ireland sometime next year, I really can,” said Steward before he departed for his Dublin hotel and another pint or two of stout.

In Vino Veritas? Let’s hope so.

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