DERRY-born IBA world middleweight champ John Duddy will be the sole focus of Irish Ropes Promotions, which on Tuesday announced the closure of its boxing gym in Far Rockaway, and the opening of a new business office in Manhattan across from Madison Square Garden.

According to a release issued by Irish Ropes, the company has also parted ways with its boxing director Jim Borzell. The gym, originally opened in 1998, was recently forced to close due to permit problems.

Now the company says it will focus solely on Duddy’s career, and will promote a maximum of two shows a year. Duddy, whose career has gone from strength to strength, currently rated sixth by the WBO and 10th by the WBA.

“Jim Borzell is one of the best matchmakers in boxing,” Irish Ropes Promotions president Eddie McLoughlin said. “He’s a dear friend who I’ll still call upon for advice about John’s opponents, but there’s no longer enough of a workload to justify having a director of boxing. We aren’t going to be signing other fighters for a while and Irish Ropes will promote one, maybe two shows a year at the most. The gym’s closing changed everything.

“There’s no animosity between Jim and I. There just isn’t enough work left. I couldn’t recommend anybody better than Jim to any promoter or manager with a prospect to move. He did a great job with John. This separation doesn’t reflect any dissatisfaction with Jim’s work; it’s strictly a business decision by Irish Ropes Promotions. We appreciate all that he’s done for us.”

Duddy will take the rest of the year off, and return to action in 2007.