The prospect of fighting before a packed house of predominately passionate Irish fans the night before St. Patrick's Day doesn't add any pressure according to the "Irish Express" headliner, "Ireland's" John Duddy (15-0, 13 KOs). Duddy is a native of Derry, Northern Ireland now living in Queens (NY). The popular undefeated brawler battles veteran "Showtime" Shelby Pudwill (21-2-1, 9 KOs) Thursday night (March 16) for the vacant WBC Continental Americas middleweight championship in the 10-round main event at The Theater in Madison Square Garden.

The "Irish Express," promoted by Irish Ropes, features a group of Irish boxers, but Duddy clearly is the draw. "Once I'm in the ring it's the same as any of my fights," Duddy explained. "After the fight it'll be a special occasion for me, like it will be for all of the fans during the fight, but I can't start celebrating until after my job is done. It's going to be a great fight against Pudwill. I'll be 110-percent and I'm sure he will be, too.

"Five thousand fans will be celebrating, but that's one of the reasons I became a professional fighter - to be on top of the card for people to come see. But the only thing that really matters is me getting a victory."

Pudwill, fighting out of North Dakota, is a former CAM (Canadian, American and Mexican) middleweight champ presently on an eight-fight win streak dating back to 2001.

"I don't know too much about him," Duddy noted, "but I'm going to let him worry about me rather than me worry about him. It's going to be a glorious night."

Tickets, priced between $400.00 and $50.00, are available by calling TicketMaster (212.307.7171) or at Jack Dempsey's Restaurant & Bar (212.629.9899). For more information about the "Irish Express" call Irish Ropes at 718.318.5145 or visit its web site at www.irishropes.com.

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