Exclusive Boxing Interview: John Duddy

IBA Middleweight champion “Ireland’s” John Duddy, 18-0 (15), will face Anthony “The Bullet” Bonsante, 29-8-2 (17), the night before St. Patrick’s Day, March 16, live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event dubbed “Erin Go Brawl” sold out three weeks before the fight and is being promoted by Irish Ropes.

Duddy’s 12 round main event against Contender Season One star Bonsante will be his fourth consecutive fight at the famous Mecca of Boxing. His last outing in September was a 12 round hard fought battle against veteran “Yory Boy” Campas. Duddy was badly cut over both eyes early in the bout and after nearly being knocked down in the second round, came back strong to win on points.

In an exclusive phone interview we spoke to Duddy about his bout with Campas, his upcoming fight with Bonsante and his growing legions of fans.

SaddoBoxing: You are coming off a hard fought 12 round decision over Yory Boy Campas last September; did you feel it was going to be as competitive a fight as it was?

John Duddy: “I knew it was probably going to be the toughest fight of my career, but I didn’t think it was going to be that tough to be honest with you. I knew it was going to be a tough fight, the man has nearly a hundred fights you can’t take him lightly at all.”

SB: How would you rate your performance against Yory Boy Campas?

JD: “Well it was a victory, I think it was alright (laughing).”

SB: What injuries did you sustain from the fight?

JD: “I got three cuts. Three cuts over my eyes. But that comes par for the job, my cut man George had done a great job and the cuts never bothered me during the fight.”

SB: Did you feel you were behind on points during the bout?

JD: “I think maybe in the early rounds. I think probably around the fourth and fifth round, I needed to change my game plan. From the fifth round on I started boxing a lot more and letting my hands do the talking so to speak. I planned to try and go in and fight every round as best I could. ”

SB: Besides the win, what were you able to take away from the fight?

JD: “There is a lot more work to be done with myself personally. It was a good experience and it taught me that you can’t go in expecting to blow guys out in a couple of rounds. I could make fights a lot easier for myself if I start boxing more than slugging. I learned a lot about myself good and bad and the bad can be fixed in the gym where it is supposed to be. I am just looking forward to my next time out and show everybody what I learned from the Yory Boy fight.”

SB: Your next time out is just around the corner with Anthony Bonsante; do you know much about him?

JD: “Well I know he was on the Contender. He has had a few good televised fights as well. He is a tough guy, he’s hungry, and I suppose if he can beat me, it makes his future a lot easier. I am looking forward to it; I think it’s going to be a great fight.”

SB: Did you see him fight on the Contender?

JD: “No, I never watched the Contender. I have seen a few of his fights on tape in camp.”

SB: What is your game plan for the fight?

JD: “I suppose I plan to be 100% ready and hopefully letting my opponent worry about me. I think I will be using my jab a little bit more and probably being a bit more patient and not as eager to try and knock him out because he’s shown that he’s got a good chin. I think it should be more of a professional fight on my behalf.”

SB: Do you have any predictions?

JD: “A victory. Points or a knockout I’ll take either as long as it’s a win at the end of the day.”

SB: How was your training camp?

JD: “It was fantastic. The weather in Florida was in the low 80’s so it was beautiful. We had a good gym, great facilities and the sparring went well. I was really pleased.”

SB: Why did you feel you needed to get away to Florida for training camp?

JD: “The temperature in New York had been very cold. Our last camp was in the Pocono’s Mountains in Pennsylvania and that was beautiful but again with the time of season it would have been too cold to go there. Florida seems to be where all the New York fighters go and that’s why we had to try it out. I am glad that we did because it’s fantastic, we had a big long beach and the temperature was nice and had a great gym to train in.”

“The other reason was with everyone knowing I was training at Gleason’s Gym I have started to pick up a lot of people coming in to see me. Reporters and TV crews and stuff looking to interview me. I just needed to get away from the things that would distract me from the fight. I needed to get back to the basics of boxing which was just training and working hard and preparing for that one night.”

SB: This will be your fourth straight fight at Madison Square Garden . Does that provide you any extra motivation?

JD: “No, I was fortunate enough to fight there in the past. I am comfortable fighting there. I think that I have to keep working hard to keep up the reputation Madison Square Garden has for fights and for fighters. I am just proud to be a part of it and be involved in an arena with the stature that it has and hopefully I can follow in the shoes of the fighters there before me.”

SB: You have a large fan base that continues to grow in New York, do you feel any sense of comfort fighting in your hometown with their support?

JD: “Definitely, it’s like a home away from home. I never had 5,500 screaming fans when I was back home in Ireland fighting. It’s a lot more than I ever expected and I am really enjoying it at the moment. It’s nice to have it but I have to keep working hard to make sure it keeps growing and going onwards and upwards and maybe next year hopefully we will be headlining in the big arena.”

SB: During our last interview you mentioned that you start every New Year the same, which is to finish the year better off than when you started. Do you feel you accomplished that for 2006?

JD: “Oh definitely. I think so. This year as long as the victories keep coming and we keep moving up in our standard of fighters hopefully success will keep coming with it. I am really enjoying my professional boxing career at the moment and I am just going to work very, very hard to keep it going. ”

SB: Do you have any specific goals that will help you accomplish it for 2007?

JD: “Not really. I have a good team around me. I’ve got a great coach and Irish Ropes Promotions and they are doing a great job. With every fight that has come along we are all growing as a family together and sort of getting bigger in the circles of boxing. As long as the fights keep coming and I keep healthy and keep winning that will keep going. I am proud to be a part of it. The future seems bright; it seems a lot brighter than it did last year. I want to make sure when I finish this year that there is a great opportunity for us and hopefully go for the top.”

SB: Thank you very much for the time and I wish you the best of luck against Bonsante and in your career.

JD: “No problem. Thanks again for calling.”