Duddy, where is he going?

walshb

What is Duddy at? He seems to have been around 'donkey's years,' yet has accomplished nothing. Where is he going and can we expect anything significant in the next 12 months?

Any news or info?

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=213891&cat=boxer

http://www.irish-boxing.com/stories/september08/september08_duddy_phillips_in_doubt.html

dlofnep

Your guess is as good as ours.

sligobhoy67

dlofnep wrote: »

Your guess is as good as ours.

to be fair his career was all going swimmingly until it hit two major stumbling block in the form of Campas and then Smichet.

Campas was forgivable - just, but the Smichet fight was woeful in the extreme - its showed Bob Arum everything he didnt want to see.

I thought the future was dropping down a weight was the way forward - as I dont think Duddy has ever had any issue with weight and I think there has always been "spare capacity" with that respect.

It is a shame if the Phillips fight doesnt come off because I think its very winnable for Duddy.

But I dont think its fair to say he has accomplished nothing.

walshb

Well, he has won nothing of note. Should Duddy never win a legitimate title or even challenge for a legitimate title, what was it all for? Duddy is paraded as more than just a fighter. He is paraded as a challenger with potential to be great; yet he hasn't done anything to cement this rating? Time is ticking fast and Duddy is not young anymore.

I am not saying he's past it; but he's been in many wars now with little reward!

sligobhoy67

walshb wrote: »

Well, he has won nothing of note. Should Duddy never win a legitimate title or even challenge for a legitimate title, what was it all for? Duddy is paraded as more than just a fighter. He is paraded as a challenger with potential to be great; yet he hasn't done anything to cement this rating? Time is ticking fast and Duddy is not young anymore.

I am not saying he's past it; but he's been in many wars now with little reward!

titles schmitles walshy! its about progression (and money) not trinkets -. he's been a pro for five years and whilst grant he's not getting any younger I dont think its time for Team Duddy to panic yet. Also if the Phillips fight comes off then it put a legitimate world title within his reach. He is a ticket seller so no doubt his chance will come.

joepenguin

Its a pity his fight with Verno Phillips didnt come off as planned. His team did say if they couldnt make that fight happen then it would be someone highly ranked which I think is a good idea so he sees how he adapts to the new weight division. How would it affect his cuts etc.

Theres also talks of him fighting Ronald Hearns next year if they both keep winning... http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=15852

walshb

sligobhoy67 wrote: »

titles schmitles walshy! its about progression (and money) not trinkets -. he's been a pro for five years and whilst grant he's not getting any younger I dont think its time for Team Duddy to panic yet. Also if the Phillips fight comes off then it put a legitimate world title within his reach. He is a ticket seller so no doubt his chance will come.

Well, unfortunately you are correct. It is all about money and not talent and titles and class.
Though, I really admire Duddy and think he is a consummate pro with a great attitude, superb stamina and a fine chin. He just doesn't hit hard enough and is too easily hit.
I would just like, in the next 6-12 months, for John to either go for it or not. I want something solid, something verifiable from him, that's all!

sston

walshb wrote: »

Well, he has won nothing of note. Should Duddy never win a legitimate title or even challenge for a legitimate title, what was it all for?

It's all for money. I think you're being very naive about professional boxing if you think that it's about anything else. Sure belts are nice to have above the fireplace but they don't pay the mortgage. Look at Damaen Kelly, he won plenty of belts throughout his career, some legitimate like the British, European and Commonwealth as well as challenging for the IBF world title. Some were not so respected, for example the IBO and WBF titles but either way he won plenty yet still had to hold down a full time job for most of his career.

If at the end of the day you said to Duddy, "hey you can either have a) plenty of money or b) you can keep bwalsh happy by winning something of note". What do you think he'd say?

I'm not saying both are mutually exclusive but in some cases they are. Take Micky Ward, the best belt he won in boxing was the very lightly regarded WBU title yet his trilogy with Gatti earned him more money than many world champions would earn in a career. And for me anyway as a boxing fan Ward leaves a far greater legacy than many guys who did actually win a world title.

jayroyal

sston wrote: »

It's all for money. I think you're being very naive about professional boxing if you think that it's about anything else. Sure belts are nice to have above the fireplace but they don't pay the mortgage. Look at Damaen Kelly, he won plenty of belts throughout his career, some legitimate like the British, European and Commonwealth as well as challenging for the IBF world title. Some were not so respected, for example the IBO and WBF titles but either way he won plenty yet still had to hold down a full time job for most of his career.

If at the end of the day you said to Duddy, "hey you can either have a) plenty of money or b) you can keep bwalsh happy by winning something of note". What do you think he'd say?

I'm not saying both are mutually exclusive but in some cases they are. Take Micky Ward, the best belt he won in boxing was the very lightly regarded WBU title yet his trilogy with Gatti earned him more money than many world champions would earn in a career. And for me anyway as a boxing fan Ward leaves a far greater legacy than many guys who did actually win a world title.

+1

walshb

sston wrote: »

It's all for money. I think you're being very naive about professional boxing if you think that it's about anything else. Sure belts are nice to have above the fireplace but they don't pay the mortgage. Look at Damaen Kelly, he won plenty of belts throughout his career, some legitimate like the British, European and Commonwealth as well as challenging for the IBF world title. Some were not so respected, for example the IBO and WBF titles but either way he won plenty yet still had to hold down a full time job for most of his career.

If at the end of the day you said to Duddy, "hey you can either have a) plenty of money or b) you can keep bwalsh happy by winning something of note". What do you think he'd say?

I'm not saying both are mutually exclusive but in some cases they are. Take Micky Ward, the best belt he won in boxing was the very lightly regarded WBU title yet his trilogy with Gatti earned him more money than many world champions would earn in a career. And for me anyway as a boxing fan Ward leaves a far greater legacy than many guys who did actually win a world title.

Naive my arse. What money is he earning? I know full well it's a business.
I wouldn't say it's massive.

I just want to know where he's going?

I think we are missing my point. I just questioned where he is
going. He seems to have been around for so long; and here's the thing:
He has been in so many tough wars; why not be in one or two tough title challenges and make the cash.
He is making the cash fighting wars in fights we've all seen before. So yes, it's business; but this is hardly
shrewd!

sligobhoy67

walshb wrote: »

Naive my arse. What money is he earning? I know full well it's a business.
I wouldn't say it's massive.

I just want to know where he's going?

I think we are missing my point. I just questioned where he is
going. He seems to have been around for so long; and here's the thing:
He has been in so many tough wars; why not be in one or two tough title challenges and make the cash.
He is making the cash fighting wars in fights we've all seen before. So yes, it's business; but this is hardly
shrewd!

well to be fair to the McLoughlins it did look pretty shrewd until the Schmicet fight - they had him nicely lined up for a fight against Kelly and that would have earned him mega buck if he had impressed - he didnt and now we are going down the LM route. I see progress and logic even if others dont.

Big Ears

walshb wrote: »

Naive my arse. What money is he earning? I know full well it's a business.
I wouldn't say it's massive.

I just want to know where he's going?

I think we are missing my point. I just questioned where he is
going. He seems to have been around for so long; and here's the thing:
He has been in so many tough wars; why not be in one or two tough title challenges and make the cash.
He is making the cash fighting wars in fights we've all seen before. So yes, it's business; but this is hardly
shrewd!

To answer your question they're currently looking for a title fight at the nearest opportunity, one hasn't materialised this year due to lack of tv dates so they're looking to take on a well ranked challenger at 154 in the mean time and then get that title shot. A fight with Ronald Hearns is also being talked up. So that's what's going on with Duddy.

walshb

Big Ears wrote: »

To answer your question they're currently looking for a title fight at the nearest opportunity, one hasn't materialised this year due to lack of tv dates so they're looking to take on a well ranked challenger at 154 in the mean time and then get that title shot. A fight with Ronald Hearns is also being talked up. So that's what's going on with Duddy.

Very succinct, thanks!

Let's hope it materializes soon. I don't think I want
to endure another 12 months of 'nothing'

Big Ears

http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/09/19/Boxing-Duddy-Hearns-set-for-January/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/boxing/

As I had heard the November date in Belfast has been cancelled. Thankfully John is still fighting, and even sooner on the 6th of November in Long Island, New York. After that they're looking at Ronald Hearns in January should Hearns overcome Canadian Paul Clavette.

sligobhoy67

Big Ears wrote: »

http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/09/19/Boxing-Duddy-Hearns-set-for-January/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/boxing/

As I had heard the November date in Belfast has been cancelled. Thankfully John is still fighting, and even sooner on the 6th of November in Long Island, New York. After that they're looking at Ronald Hearns in January should Hearns overcome Canadian Paul Clavette.

I'll see if I can find out if any opponants have been mentioned for the Long Island fight

joepenguin

Suppose he could do with a step up from Charles Howe before fighting for a belt. Will probably be mid 2009 earliest before he gets a title shot. Pity he's not fighting in Ireland though