It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, but the Derry Destroyer prevails again! John was cut open in the first round from a head butt. John was in command during the first round as Alessio was down and backing up as John turn it on. The second round brought more fire from John as he may have been thinking about the cut over his eye. Round 3, the Italian seems to be getting a groove going but never really dominated. To Alessio's credit, he kept his hands up the entire fight making a tough target for John to hit. John boxed more during the entire fight, jabbing constantly. John looked as if he wanted to practice on this guy, and John got to do this for 10 rounds. It was very hot in the place as the two men sweat poured off. The fight was stopped on a number of occassions due to the tape coming off the gloves of Alessio, which slowed the action considerably. The tenth and final round, John knocked down the seasoned Italian twice, who wasn't going to win anyway, and with 10 seconds left in the fight, the ref decided that was enough. John is now 21-0, 16 K.O.'s  John wanted to fight about 3-4 times this year in Ireland but I don't see that happening with the cuts (there looked like 2 around his left eye), they will need time to heal.

                  Congradulations John !!!

John Duddy,5'11" looks a lot bigger than Furlan,5'9"

Quotes

"I’m hoping people are going to see a lot of power and speed and my fights usually have plenty of blood, sweat and tears as well but hopefully not my blood or my tears. I think outside the ring the atmosphere will be pretty hot and I’m sure the crowd will enjoy it but it will be pretty hot inside the ring as well and I’m looking forward to a great victory."

"I don't make forecasts, that's for weather men. I never plan to go in for an early finish but if the opportunity pops up I’ll take it because if I hurt you I can take you out."

“The reaction I’ve had since coming home is more than I could ever have dreamed of. I’m getting noticed in places that I’d never even have dreamed of and that just makes me want to work even harder to make a name for myself back here.“ 

Duddy-Furlan PPV in U.S. Saturday live from Ireland

NEW YORK (July 9, 2007) – "The Homecoming," featuring unbeaten middleweight sensation "Ireland’s" John Duddy, will be broadcast live Saturday (July 14) in the United States on cable pay-per-view starting at 5:00 PM/ET, 2:00 PM/PT from Dublin, Ireland.

The Duddy PPV event, produced by RTE and distributed by Integrated Sports, will be available via iN Demand and TVN for a suggested retail price of only $19.95. "The Homecoming" will also be available via Closed Circuit throughout the United States. A replay broadcast will be shown at 10:00 PM/ET on the same (July 14).

Ringside commentators for the PPV event will be award-winning Jimmy Magee and former IBF flyweight champion Dave "Boy" McAuley. In studio broadcasters will include legendary Irish amateur boxer Mike Dowling and Jim Rock, the Irish light middleweight, middleweight and super middleweight champion, as well as former WBU light middleweight title challenger.

IBA and WBC Continental Americas middleweight champion Duddy (20-0, 15 KOs), now living and fighting out of Queens (NY), is a native of Derry City, Northern Ireland. Duddy’s first pro fight in Ireland will headline "The Homecoming" in a 10-round bout against Alessio Furlan (19-8-5, 8 KOs), of Italy. Furlan, former IBF Mediterraneo light middleweight title-holder, in March extended recently crowned European middleweight champion Sebastian Sylvester to the 12^{th round of their WBA Inter-Continental championship match in Germany. Other bouts and highlights will also be aired.}

Duddy is rated No. 6 by the WBO, as well as No. 9 by the WBA, No. 10 by the IBF and No. 11 by the WBC.

Furlan out to spoil Duddy’s Homecoming

"Ireland’s" JOHN DUDDY

Born: June 19, 1979 in Derry, Northern Ireland

Hometown: Queens, New York

Height: 5’ 11 Weight: 160

Record: 20-0, 15 KOs

IBA World & WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Champion

Rated No. 8 WBO, No. 9 WBA, No. 10 IBF & No. 17 WBC

Newly crowned IBA World middleweight champion "Ireland’s" John Duddy, already rated in the top 10 in three major organizations, is one of the fastest rising stars in pro boxing. The combination of his exciting, classic Irish blood-and-guts style of fighting and matinee idol looks have helped the unbeaten Irish middleweight sensation capture the hearts and minds of boxing fans in his native Ireland and United States, particularly on the East Coast. Some are even calling him an Irish Oscar De La Hoya because of his rising popularity that transcends ethnic lines, as well as his marketability potential outside of the ring.

John was born to box. Following in his father Mickey’s footsteps, Duddy started training in his Derry hometown at the age five, boxing in his first amateur match at seven. Mickey was a former club fighter who was 3-4 as a pro and sparred with several world champions such as Barry "The Clones Cyclone" McGuigan and Ken Buchanan, as well as ex-European title-holder Charlie Nash.

John won his first National title at 15 as a light middleweight in the Junior Division, later adding the Irish title as an Intermediate and Senior. He posted an amateur record of 100-30 and on the advice of his amateur coaches, Mickey and Nash in Ireland, as well as Neil Ferrara in New York City, he turned pro in 2003 and relocated in New York City.

His pro debut was September 9 2003 in the Bronx against (1-0) Tarek Rached, who John knocked out in the first round. Duddy followed that effort with two more first-round knockouts in 2003 against (1-1) Jesse Gomez and (3-5) Leo Laudat. John visited the canvas for the first time as a pro against Laudet, suffering a "flash" knockdown in the first round that Duddy ended moments after he got back up.

Fighting outside of New York City for the first time as a pro, Duddy traveled with his growing Irish fan base to Mohegan Sun in nearby Connecticut, where he registered a fourth-round stoppage of (10-4-1) Ken Hock.

Visa problems sent John back to Derry for seven months. He returned to New York City and signed to a fight October 30 in Middletown (NY). His

opponent failed to pass the pre-fight medical exam and rather than not fight on the show, Duddy and his team decided to roll the dice, spotting unbeaten light heavyweight (7-0) Victor Paz nearly seven pounds. John, however, stole the show with an electrifying performance as referee Pete Santiago halted the action at 2:04 of the opening round. He followed up November 18 with another first-round KO against (1-1) William Johnson back in New York City and December 11 at Brighton Beach (NY) John registered a fifth-round TKO of previously unbeaten (3-0) Glen Dunning. John kept his unbeaten, knockout record intact with a first-round stoppage of Chuck Orso (4-5) in Duddy’s first scheduled eight rounder.

In arguably his most significant fight (March 18) to date, Duddy stopped previously unbeaten Leonord Pierre (16-0, 11 KOs), rated N0. 19 by the World Boxing Council, at 1:23 of the opening round on ESPN2. He became an instant ESPN favorite.

Duddy followed (June 11) with an eight-round decision against Patrick Thompson (9-4-1) in historic Madison Square Garden. By going the full eight rounds, John doubled the total amount of rounds he had fought as a pro going into the bout, and he won all eight rounds on all three of the judges’ scorecards (80-72).

On July 22, John stopped veteran Patrick Coleman (29-11) with a perfect one-two combination in the eighth round of their fight outside of Chicago on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. Duddy followed with a first-round stoppage (1:01) of Joseph Brady (13-4-1) last September 17 in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

Back in New York City, John beat Canadian middleweight champion Bryon Mackie (25-11) by fourth-round TKO in their November 4 main event. In his last fight, Wilmer Mejia (15-4-2) made it to the fourth round before being stopped on a PPV show December 15 in Hollywood, Florida.

John went 10 rounds for the first time February 4 2006, nearly pitching a shutout against veteran Julio Jean (7-6-1) in Boston, winning by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91.

Duddy proved that he was on the verge of becoming a boxing version of a "Rock Star," selling out The Theater in Madison Square Garden for only the second time ever, March 16 2006. John captured his first pro title with a devastating TKO of "Showtime" Shelby Pudwill (21-2-1) at 1:51 of the first round

for the vacant WBC Continental Americas middleweight championship.

In his (June 10, 2006) first title defense, Duddy’s star power shined even brighter as he sold $250,000 for his pay-per-view fight against Freddy Cuevas (25-8-1) on the Miguel Cotto-Paulie Malignaggi card at Madison Square Garden. Cuevas’ corner stopped the fight after the seventh round after Duddy had thoroughly battered and bruised the tough Chicago veteran.

On September 29, 2006, Duddy captured his first world title, winning an exciting 12-round unanimous decision (117-111, 116-112, 115-113) against Mexican warrior and former world champion Luis Ramon "Yory Boy" Campas (88-8) in The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Duddy banged-out The Theater at Madison Square Garden for his third time headlining his third show there on March 16, 2007 (it’s only been done one other time for boxing), successfully defending both of his title belts with a ninth-round technical decision against a game Anthony "The Bullet" Bonsante (29-8-3), star of The Contender Season One, headlining the "Erin Go Brawl" pay-per-view broadcast globally.

In his last bout (May 18, 2007) at the famed Becon Theatre in New York City, Duddy pitched another shutout, winning all 10 rounds (100-89, 100-89, 100-90) against southpaw Dupre Strickland (18-1-1) in the main event on "Tomorrow’s Champions."

Through his first 20 pro fights, Duddy’s opponents had an aggregate record of 325-83-12 -- 77% winning percentage -- when they entered the ring against him.

Duddy is rated No. 8 by the WBO, No. 9 by the WBA, No. 10 by the IBF and No. 17 by the WBC.

John lives with his fiancé, Grainne, in Queens (New York City). He is promoted by Irish Ropes, managed by the McLoughlin Brothers, and trained by Don Turner.

-JD-

Duddy & Turner

form powerful 1-2 punch

NEW YORK CITY (July 2, 2007) – IBA middleweight champion "Ireland’s" John Duddy closes training camp this week in the Pocono Mountains, where he’s been preparing for his first pro fight in Ireland headlining "The Homecoming" July 14 in Dublin.

Derry City, Northern Ireland-native Duddy (20-0, 15 KO’s), now fighting out of Queens (NY), takes on former IBF Mediterraneo light middleweight title-holder Alessio Furlan (19-8-5, 8 KOs), of Italy, in the 10-round main event.

Duddy is working with new head trainer Don Turner for the first time and both already feel a boxing symmetry.

"Turner has me doing stuff I did as an amateur – throwing combinations, working on my hand speed, and pressuring correctly," Duddy explained. "I’m going to put on more pressure than I did my past few fights. More of an up-tempo and coming at my opponent from all angles. Once I get him on the ropes, I don’t want to let him off the hook. We’ve been working on a lot of small things from a different perspective. I think Don Turner is going to bring the best out of me."

Turner has trained 19 world champions including Evander Holyfield, Larry Holmes, Aaron Pryor and Mike McCallum.

"John Duddy has what it takes to go all the way to the top," Turner said. "I look at how much guts a fighter has to win -- that they’re not afraid -- because boxing is 90-percent mental. Duddy has that. This guy gets hit and it’s my job to teach him not to get hit. He’s just as good as anybody in the middleweight division. He’s responded very well to what I’m teaching him to do and he should be fighting for the world title soon. All he needs to do is throw combinations. It’s the missing link.

When he has an opponent hurt, that’s when he has to throw five more punches, not let him off the hook."

Duddy is now rated No. 6 in the WBO, as well as No. 9, 10 and 11 by the WBA, IBF and WBC, respectively. The unbeaten middleweight sensation spent two weeks in Ireland and Northern Ireland, prior to opening camp in the Poconos, promoting the July 14th show.

"It was great being home," John remarked. "I had something to do every day, meeting people in their houses, attending functions and working out at my old gym. There are a few new buildings in Derry and some others are gone that really needed to be. The atmosphere is good and Derry’s a good place to be because things are so positive. I couldn’t believe the reception I received. My phone kept ringing. It’s a small town and everybody knows everybody. I even went to the Mayor’s Ball and mayors of Dublin and Belfast were there. After a while I couldn’t go anywhere in Northern Ireland because so many people were around who wanted to see me. That won’t be a distraction for the fight because we’ll be setting up camp in Dublin, not back home."

"The Homecoming" will be broadcast live July 14 in the United States on cable pay-per-view starting at 5:00 PM/ET, 3:00 PM/PT from Dublin, Ireland. The event is being produced by RTE and distributed for pay-per-view by Integrated Sports and will be available via iN Demand and TVN for a suggested retail price of only $19.95. A replay broadcast will be shown at 10:00 PM/ET on July 14. "The Homecoming" will also be available via Closed Circuit throughout the United States.

For more information about John Duddy, Irish Ropes Promotions or "The Homecoming" on July 14 in Dublin, Ireland go on line to www.irishropes.com.

John Duddy has let go of trainer Harry Keitt, John is now 20-0. John was with Harry for 3+1/2 years, since John was 3-0. He has hired as a trainer Don Turner, a man who has worked with Evander Holyfield. John is in Ireland right now and will return next week to the states. He will train in the Poconos and then a week before his next fight in Dublin Ireland, July 14th,  opponent to be announced, he will fly back. I wish you the best John, hope you continue your winning streak. Stay away from Edison Miranda. He is a brawler and would make for a good fight, but I'd rather see you fight a better boxer.

John Duddy is scheduled to fight May 18th at the Beacon Theatre. His opponent will be Dupre "Total Package" Strickland, 18-1-1. This will probably be John's last appearance around here for awhile. Good Luck John!

Congrats to John on another win! 9th round T.K.O.!

Visit my site to see highlights: www.xanga.com/irishkungerod

 I also got to meet Maureen Shea last night who was victorious as well. She is a real class act, a true lady.

John Duddy Vs Anthony Bonsante will be shown on BBC1 on Sunday, March 18, at 10.25pm.