Andy Lee-John Duddy Clash In The Works

Its looking like were going to get a faceoff between the two best known Irish-American hitters of the day.

A deal is getting closer to fruition which would pit Andy Lee, the Emanuel Steward managed and trained boxer who grew up in Limerick, and John Duddy, the face-first brawler from Derry, in a middleweight clash which could well have title shot implications.

The bout would take place in NYC, possibly at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, or another NYC venue, sometime between December and March.

Steward came to NYC Wednesday and had a meeting with Lee, and his attorney Keith Sullivan, as well as two New York based promoters who are interested in putting on the scrap. A source tells TSS that the bout, possibly to be billed as The Battle of the Brogue, would be offered on pay per view, and would quite likely do solid business on the Emerald Isle.

Later on Wednesday, the Lee crew met with Duddys rep, Craig Hamilton, and looked to get on the same page.

These are two of the best middleweights in the world, and for the first time in awhile, wed have an exciting main event and show in New York City, the source told TSS. Details could be coming in the next week or so.

TSS-EM leans fairly heavily to the lefty Lee (24-1 with 18 KOs, lone loss in March 2008 to gutsy spoiler Bryan Vera), fresher at 26, believing that he will command the distance in the scrap, and keep Duddy at arms length often enough to pile up the points. Lee has been beyond busy, at least in this day and age, when anyone fighting more than three times a year is seen as a workaholic, having piled up four stoppage wins in four 2010 outings.

Duddys stock isnt quite as high; the 31-year-old stepped up in June, but was beaten back by Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (UD12). His record stands at 29-2 with 18 KOs.