Q and A:John Duddy

http://www.fightnews.com/kelley109.htm

It was June 11, 2005, and "Ireland's" John Duddy had finally been forced to fight to the final bell, in an eight round bout against journeyman Patrick Thompson. With gloves then removed from his powerful hands, Duddy awaited the obvious announcement of his first decision victory. As he walked within the square circle, the middleweight prospect was finally able to appreciate the moment. Taking a good look out into the crowd, Duddy saw the overwhelming number of his fans, clad in green shirts, chanting "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole!" Then, as the announcement of his victory bellowed throughout the arena and the raucous crowd grew even more boisterous, John Duddy thought to himself "I've finally made it. I'm on top of the world, fighting at Madison Square Garden."

This Saturday night, the undefeated John Duddy (16-0, 14 KO's) will once again fight at what is touted as "The world's most famous arena" and "The Mecca of boxing," when he takes on ten-year veteran Freddie Cuevas (25-8-1, 17 KO's) in the 12 round co-feature bout for Duddy's WBC Continental America's title.

While the Paul Malignaggi vs Miguel Cotto WBO junior-welterweight title bout will headline the night, don't be surprised to see a plethora of Duddy fans occupying a majority of the arena. In his last bout, against Shelby Pudwill at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, Duddy became just the second fight ever to fill the venue for a boxing match. "Sugar" Shane Mosley is the only other pug to accomplish such a feat, and that was in a WBC title fight showdown with Vernon Forest!

Fightnews.com spoke with John Duddy from his home in Far Rockaway, NY, about his recent signing with Irish Ropes, his training camp, and his upcoming fight with Cuevas. Here's what the action packed contender had to say...

How happy are you with your decision to sign a promotional agreement with Irish Ropes?
Well, to be honest with you, I think the decision was made by me self a long time ago, even though we never put it on paper. With the trust Irish Ropes has shown in me, over the time I've been with them, I never had any reason to change from them. There was no one else in the world of boxing that was going to make me change my mind. We've been a good team, and I trust them that they have me interest at heart. I think it's just going to continue the exact same way as we've always been.

So, the decision was more or less inevitable?
Right. It was more so probably for the world of boxing, just in that they would know that I am officially with Irish Ropes. Even though, before this, it was on a word of mouth and a handshake, the boxing world now knows that John Duddy is officially promoted by Irish Ropes.

You were obviously approached by some of the big-time promoters. How much more money would they have had to give you, in order for you to entertain their offer?
To be honest, Pat, the money factor wouldn't be a head priority for me, especially in the world of boxing. People can talk money, or pay money, but in this game you're only as good as your next fight. I think the fact that I have a good team around me, that puts my interest at heart first, rather than their own, and that their dependable and I just feel comfortable working with them. I just wouldn't feel comfortable working with anyone else, I suppose. I'm just glad Irish Ropes put their money where their mouth was, and I know who I'm in with. With everybody else I would have had to start over and develop a relationship with them, where there's no need for it with Irish Ropes.

So, the bottom line is that you have to be happy at the end of the day?
Well, if I'm not happy me performances are going to show that. A lot of boxing, for a fighter to perform his best in the ring, must be just keeping up with my career and everything else moves along smoothly. Where if I was to get in with a relationship with someone I don't know, and have to be worrying about what they're doing, I'm sure it would have hindered me performance in the ring. I didn't think it was a big thing. To be honest with you, it was more just a formality. We were just keeping it legal for everybody else.

Does it put you more at ease knowing the business aspect is now behind you?
I think it makes it easier for Irish Ropes, in that they know they have a fighter that's coming up now. If they had any doubts before, that those doubts have been squashed. I do what I do. I fight, and I train, and if they want to be a part of that I'm glad to have them a part of me. As well as me being a part of them. I think, hopefully, that Irish ropes knows that in promoting John Duddy they have a fighter that is committed to them, and that we're in this together.

I understand you moved your training camp, because the Poconos was being renovated.
Yeah, that's right.

So, you came up to train in Massachusetts, and due to the flooding here, you were forced backed to Gleason's. Did that disrupt your training camp at all?
No, it just caused a problem at the gym up in Boston, so we had to leave. But, I had a fantastic time up there, and I'd just like to thank Paulie, and Team Malignaggi, for inviting us up. It was a nice experience, and it's amazing how you don't realize the distractions you have, until you don't have any distractions at all. Even though the weather was bad, all you had to do was put on the wet-gear and go hit the roads, you know. I enjoyed it up there, though. We were lucky enough to meet up with Micky Ward up there, and we went to the Ricky Hatton fight, too. The training was fantastic. Me and James were up running every morning at six o'clock, and then back in the gym in the afternoon. It was a great experience, and it was nice to see how Paulie worked out, as well. We're were all training together, and we're all in the same boat with the same goal. Paulie's knocking on it, and I was glad to see how he goes about it. He's a good, hard worker. He's a fast talker, but he's as fast in the ring with his hands as he is with his words out of the ring. It was nice to be a part of it, and I look forward to putting on a nice show at the Garden on June 10.

Did you do anything different in preparation for this fight, than you might have in the past?
No, not really. We've been working on everything. After every fight you've got to keep raising your standards higher. We've just been working more rounds, sparring more rounds, working on the jab and head movement. Just going out and doing our hard work, as usual.

In your last fight you scored a first round knockout over Canadian champ, Shelby Pudwill. Does that make you try and get more sparring rounds in, so that you keep sharp?
Well, I fight the fight. I know you like to get rounds under your belt, but the gym is the place where you get the rounds, then when you go in the big arena you make the fight as easy as possible for yourself. That's why you do the hard work in the gym. And if I get the opportunity to get out of there early, I'll do it again. I know I'm not there to hang around. I'm there to get me job done, and go home.

What is the single biggest improvement you've made in this camp?
I'm not sure. After every fight I want to improve on me performance, and we try to work hard on everything.

What are some of the strengths of Freddie Cuevas, which you'll have to be aware of on fight night?
I know Freddie is a very durable, very smart, experienced fighter. I know that I'm not going to just go out and do to him what I did to Shelby Pudwill. He's very fast and he throws lots of punches. He's got a tremendous chin. He took Jermain Taylor the distance, and Taylor hit him with everything. He got hit with that Taylor right hand, and that didn't slow Freddie down. I know I'm definitely going to have to bring more than just me punch that night, and that's what I'm looking forward to.

Do you feel any added pressure to have an impressive performance, given the fact you are the co-featured bout at Madison Square Garden and in your first fight under a promotional contract?
You always want impressive performances, you know. I know one thing, for sure, I'm 110 percent ready for the fight. I'm going to go out and give 110 percent, if not more. I always try to do my best in all my fights, and I think that's why I'm generating such a fan base, because the fans see that. With the reception that I receive in New York, and being in the big arena, I think it's going to be a tremendous crowd and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm very honored to be a part of it. There's a New York fighter fighting for a world title, and for me to be a co-feature on it is a tremendous feeling. I'm just looking forward to going out and doing what I do best.

You're also going to receive a lot of exposure with this being a Pay-Per-View card. What do you hope that will do for your career?
Well, it will do for me career what it's going to do. I'm moving upwards and onwards. If I keep winning it's only going to get bigger and better. It's in my hands what it does for me career.

In the fight with Pudwill I believe you became just the second fighter to sell out the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. Is that correct?
Yes, I was the second to do it. Shane Mosley was the first, and I was the second. That's nice, you know. I've got a great fan base here in New York and hopefully the theatre will turn into the show at the big arena someday. It's all small steps towards a bigger picture, and this is another small step. Hopefully, I'll come out on top, then I'm going to sit back and enjoy it fully.

* * *