John Duddy: “I am ready!”


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John Duddy: “I am ready!”

Interview By Benny Henderson Jr., DoghouseBoxing (Oct 27, 2008) DoghouseBoxing.com (Photo © Bob Kolb)

Coming up October 21st from the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, undefeated middleweight contender John Duddy 25-0 (17) returns to the ring as he takes on the tough journeyman Sam Hill 17-9-1 (10) as they headline “The Grande Event”.

Duddy, who has banged out twenty-five consecutive victories since his 2003 debut, is looking for a world championship crown in the near future.

The Irishman has defeated the likes of Luis Campas (UD 12), Shelby Pudwill (TKO 1) and Howard Eastman (UD 10), and looks to continue his winning ways as he takes on tough veteran Hill, who hasshared the square circle with some top fighters.

In this exclusive interview conducted by Doghouse Boxing, John speaks out on his upcoming fight as well as his future endeavors, enjoy.

Benny Henderson Jr.: What has been going down in the world of John Duddy?

John Duddy: Everything is going pretty good. I was back at home, me and my fiancé, we purchased a home back in Ireland. Now I am getting back to business.

BH: You will be facing veteran Sam Hill, give the readers your thoughts on Hill and the upcoming fight itself?

JD: Hill is a journeyman, he has been in with some good fighters in his last few fights. He always comes to fight, and he has giving anybody and everybody trouble you know, I am just looking forward to gaining more experience and getting in there with tough durable pros. I am trying to get smarter on my behalf and boxing more than using my brawn more to speak and start using my brain more.

BH: Our first interview together was over three years ago when you were a hot prospect, you had seven professional bouts under your belt at that time. Now here it is, eighteen fights later and you are a world ranked contender. How time flies my man. Anyway, you have come along way, give the readers your thoughts on your journey as well as progression this far in your career?

JD: Well, it is like anything in life, it has been bit of a rollercoaster, I have had my ups and my downs. The boxing side and in the ring I have been lucky to having ups. I am still hungry, and I am still moving up. I think that I am still getting there slowly but surely, and hopefully 2009 I will be very surprised if I am not knocking on the door of finally challenging for a world title against one of the worlds best.

BH: That runs into my next question. Again, you have been banging in the pros for five years and are now ranked #7 in the IBF and #2 in the WBO. How much longer do you think it will be until you will compete for a world title?

JD: Well, hopefully not to long. There has been a lot of speculation this past year with me fighting one or two of the middleweight champions. The main goal is to keep moving forward and hopefully someday we will be getting a phone call to take the opportunity to become a world champion one day.

BH: You have been fighting at 160-pounds, you have been thinking about dropping down to 154-pounds?

JD: Yes.

BH: How has it been working with Pat Burns?

JD: The training has been fantastic, I like this work ethic and how he handles his business. I like his ideas and what he is bringing out of me.

BH: What are your thoughts on the Bernard Hopkins win over previously unbeaten Kelly Pavlik, who also at one time or another had been rumored to be one of your future opponents?

JD: Well, moments like that happen few and far between in boxing. Hopkins has been in the game for so long, the experience he has, you cannot compare him to anybody else. Against Pavlik, Hopkins hand speed was really something, I was surprised. I thought it was tremendous to watch. I think Pavlik needs to watch the fight and hopefully rebirth himself.

BH: If you could send out a message to Sam Hill before the fight using Doghouse Boxing as a platform, what would you say to the guy?

JD: I would not say much to the man, he comes to fight, he comes prepared and ready and he comes in awkward to be an obstacle to me as he does with anybody else. I would want to let him know that I am ready, and hopefully he will be too, it is going to be an exciting fight for the fans.

BH: Anything in closing my brother?

JD: Just want to thank everybody for their support, hopefully in the future John Duddy will be fighting for a world title. I will need their prayers and hope and support too, I am looking forward to putting on entertaining fights.

I would like to thank Bob Trieger for setting up this interview, and a thanks goes out to John Duddy for his time and thoughts.

Tickets, priced at $80.00, $100.00, $150.00 and $250.00, are on sale and available to purchase by calling Irish Ropes Promotions (212.868.9544), Jack Demsey’s Restaurant & Bar in Manhattan (212.629.9899), Hilltop Bar in Queens (718.429.8870) and The Heritage Bar in Yonkers (914.776.7532). For more information about “Ireland’s” John Duddy or “The Grande Event” go to www.irishropes.com. Doors will open at 6:30 PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.

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