By April Drew

OVER 5,000 plus Irish fans adorned in green and gold packed into the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Friday to watch Derry boxer John Duddy walk away with yet another win in his pocket.

The Irish Voice spoke to some of the fans who traveled far and wide to support not alone Duddy but also several underdogs on the card that night, and all were unanimous in hailing Duddy as a future world champion.

“He’s fantastic, electric incredible, wonderful,” said one in a clear state of hyperbolic excitement.

The night started well when Clare-born newcomer Mark Clancy, wearing an Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) t-shirt, showed them who was boss when he defeated his opponent after four rounds.

“Now that was a great start to the night,” said Jason Lyons from Rockaway whose parents hail from Dublin. “That’s what I came here to see, the Irish taking home the title on the night before our big day,” he said as he hugged his buddy who was wearing a green wig.

Scattered around the arena were supporters of ILIR, as their Legalize the Irish t-shirts could identify them readily.

“We’re here tonight to support John Duddy because he has supported us from the very beginning. He has been a great supporter of the Legalize the Irish campaign so we never miss any of his fights,” said Samantha Melia.

Like any Irish events around St. Patrick’s Day Irish leprechauns are destined to appear, and the Duddy fight was no exception. Four amateur boxers from Ireland, two dressed in leprechaun outfits, flew in especially to celebrate and support their comrades in the ring.

Irish flags were stuck up on the walls with gum and people were waving their oversized green and gold hands in the air while waiting in anticipation for the arrival of the main man, Duddy, the real million-dollar baby.

Maureen Shea, whose father hails from Co. Kerry, did her fans proud yet again by beating her Mexican opponent. Maureen, wearing green and gold glitzy shorts, bounced around the ring as her Irish fans gave her roars of support and “Go Maureen.”

As the main event drew closer, the announcer welcomed several famous people including boxers Jake LaMotta, Joe Frazier and Gerry Cooney, tennis ace John McEnroe and actor Mathew Modine.

The night wasn’t only all about boxing, though. Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness, who was invited to attend the fight by boxing legend Frazier, told the Irish Voice, “It’s absolutely fantastic to see so many here and so many supporting our own John Duddy, someone from my own hometown. We all hope that John will go on to be a world champion.”

As the night was turning into the best Irish party ever, Eddie McLoughlin, Irish Ropes promoter, said it was a great event and he knew that Duddy would draw an amazing crowd. “He is a popular young man and a wonderful boxer,” said McLoughlin.

The moment had finally arrived and Duddy proudly bounced into the ring, yet again showing his support for the ILIR by wearing the t-shirt. This drove the supporters wild, and yet his concentration remained intact. Nine rounds later Duddy bumped his unbeaten record up to 19 after beating Anthony Bonsante from Minnesota.

When the fight was over, Duddy put back on the ILIR t-shirt and strolled around the ring in style.

While the crowd continued to celebrate Duddy’s win by singing “Ole Ole,” Duddy threw his sweaty Legalize the Irish t-shirt deep into the crowd and a young woman in a pretty dress picked it up and held on to it for dear life. When a young lad asked could he have it she responded with a shake of the head.

Like many other women present, she thinks Duddy is a knockout in more ways than one.