Duddy To Headline ESPN Show

He’s officially the one to watch, the chosen one, the most buzzed about boxer on the rise. The John Duddy Express is chugging forward, and the Derry Destroyer will get a chance to up the buzz another notch when he headlines ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on May 11.

The CEO of Irish Ropes Promotions, Eddie McLoughlin, told TSS that Duddy will fight in New York (either in Westchester or Nassau County), against an opponent to be named later. Thirty-four-year-old journeyman Larry Marks (29-8), and 32-year-old Kofi Jantuah (30-3), a vet looking to regain contender status, are two names in the mix to meet Duddy. Those two are slated to square off April 7 in Missouri. The Irish fan fave last fought at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on March 16, when he dominated and stopped Contender alum Anthony Bonsante in the ninth round. McLoughlin understands that people are aching to see Duddy against top-tier opposition but he’s taking a patient approach as he builds to a hefty payoff. “People would like to see us fight Tyson,” McLaughlin said, chuckling. “But we’ll find something in the middle, between what the network wants and what’s wise.” Assuming all goes well on May 11, Duddy will head back to the homeland, and glove up in Dublin on June 30. McLaughlin would then like to book him in a European title fight in August, which would also take place in Ireland. Then, the itinerary calls for a return to the States with one or two more outings before 2007 closes. McLaughling would like to see Duddy appear on a Jermain Taylor undercard, to fan the flames for the money shot, a 2008 St. Paddy’s day shootout with Taylor in Madison Square Garden. But we all know what they say about the best laid plans o’ mice and men… McLoughlin knows full well that Duddy, or Taylor, could be derailed between now and then. But as of now, the Duddy Express chugs onward, at increasing velocity. Next stop for the Derry Destroyer is Friday Night Fights, and beyond that, only the Fates of the fickle fight world know for sure…