By Declan O’Kelly

IT seems like an age since John Duddy went to war with Yori Boy Campas last September 29, but the Derry-born middleweight is ready to make his eagerly anticipated return to the ring this Friday night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden against the reality boxing TV show The Contender’s season one star Bonsante.

During their time in camp, trainer Harry Keitt and Duddy took time to iron out a few defensive kinks that appeared during the Campas fight. Despite the fight being considered one of the best of 2006, Duddy’s defense was lacking for several rounds.

“We spent the most time working on our weaknesses without trying to worry about Bonsante,” Duddy said during an interview with the Irish Voice last Friday from his training camp in Vero Beach, Florida.

“We looked at what Yori Boy Campas exploited, and just worked on my jab and my moving my head and boxing a bit more. I need to use my brain rather then my brawn in fights, and hopefully this will result in a more professional performance.”

Tactically, Duddy hopes to show the kind of poise and boxing skills that he displayed on June 11 last year against Freddy Cuevas, where he controlled the fight with his jab and ring movement. Against Campas, Duddy made offense his best form of defense and consequently took a lot of hard headshots in an enthralling but grueling punchout.

The lesson learned that night has not been lost on the Derryman.

“That’s what I need to get back to, but against Campas the jab went out the window, and it was a slugfest from start to finish,” Duddy says.

“I’m looking to show a more professional and patient side of myself, but on the night it depends how the fight progresses. It’s unpredictable to say, but if I can put on a professional performance like I did on June 11, then great, but if I can end the fight quick then I’ll do that. Whatever I do I will try to do so with a more cautious and experienced head on me.”

That’s not to say Duddy and his team haven’t been doing their homework on his opponent.

“Don’t get me wrong, we’ve watched tape of Bonsante and know what he is good at and things that we can possibly exploit. The man comes fit and comes eager to fight with a lot or experience behind him,” Duddy said.

“I know I’m not going to go in there and walk straight through him. I am going to use what I learned from Yori Boy Campas, and hopefully box him and pick him apart piece by piece in the later rounds.”

Campas opened a few cuts around the eyes that caused Duddy to take a complete break from training, but the rest and recuperation have paid off, and he is confident there is nothing to worry about on that score.

“I’ve been sparring with James Moore, another Irish fighter in New York, and Alo Kelly, who is in this year’s Golden Gloves, and they have been hitting me with as many shots as they could,” Duddy said.

“Thank God my eyes seem to be holding up as good as they ever were. I am back to 100%.”

The immensely popular Duddy, a man who goes above and beyond to connect with both fans and media, has had time to reflect since his last fight and is focused on further improving and developing.

“A fight like Yori Boy Campas would be terrific for the crowd, but it’s not a terrific way to prolong my boxing career. My main goal is to go on and win, the performance is second,” he says.

“When I get the victory then I will worry about the performance, and with what I have been working on down here at Vero Beach I have no reason not to believe it will be a good one.”

Duddy, not an unhandsome man considering his profession, showed how much his defense and counter-attack had improved when asked if there were any wedding plans with long-time girlfriend Gráinne,

“No date planned, but when I do, none of youse will know about it,” he said laughing, flooring the surprise question with a knock-out quip.

All joking aside, Duddy has been the catalyst for a revival of Irish boxers on the New York scene. The fact that he heads an almost all Irish fight card in Madison Square Garden is a source of enormous pride to the fighter.

“Happy days! The stage is set now with all I achieved last year, especially in September, and if I can lend a hand to any other Irishman or Irishwoman, then I am glad to do so,” Duddy says.

“I think it is a fantastic setting for Irish people, and it just shows you how much New York City is an Irish city. Once again, if it wasn’t for the fans that keep coming to the arenas, I wouldn’t be in this position.

“It looks like the attention I am getting is opening doors for other fighters who otherwise might not have had this chance a couple of years ago.”

One could argue that the Irish community in New York needs him as much as he needs them. At a time when numbers in Irish communities are dwindling, Duddy has given a lot of people something to shout about and be proud of. He has become a sporting hero exactly at a time when the Irish needed one.

A staunch supporter of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR), Duddy will be showing solidarity with the reform group again this Friday night.

“Oh, of course I’ve got my ILIR t-shirt ironed and hanging up in the wardrobe, it’ll be on me straight after the fight,” he says.

“I was in Vero beach and couldn’t make it to Washington last Wednesday for the ILIR rally, but my manager went up with a few of his family to lobby. Hopefully the legislation will come through, because it’s going to make a lot of people’s lives easier and would be a plus for all Irish people.”

The pride he shows in his heritage makes Duddy a hit with the Irish, and his skill, enthusiasm, marketability and energy make him a hit with New Yorkers. He is good friends with light welterweight Paulie Malignaggi, and identifies himself as part of an up-and-coming crop of New York fighters.

You’ll never take the Ireland out of John Duddy, but he’s put a lot of New York into himself in his few years in the city. Say his name to any New York boxing fan and they’ll know him, and more often than not, be shouting for him.

Duddy’s profile at home has taken a big turn recently after the airing of a BBC documentary about him last week. Since its broadcast, he has been inundated with calls and texts from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

“Oh, there’s a whole tribe of people coming over, there’s a whole lot of people I don’t even know coming over,” Duddy said of his home fans who will comprise part of the sold-out crowd at the Garden on Friday.

“The bigger the setting the more everyone wants to be a part of it. I am just looking forward to going in on Friday night and doing the job that I love doing.”

Can Duddy make a breakthrough in the middleweight division? Apart from an aging Campas, he has not fought any big names, but that discussion will have to wait a while.

For this week the most important fight for Duddy is his next one, and that comes Friday night against Bonsante.

This time last year, he dismantled Shelby Pudwill in just under two minutes and had this to say to fans: “From the St. Patrick’s show here last year, I would be telling everybody not to be rushing off to the toilet for a cigarette, as I proved last year these fights can be over in the blink of an eye.

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect that to happen, but get your seats, get in there and stay seated until I’m finished in the ring!”

The fight will be broadcast on Pay Per View. See ad on Page 93 for details.