Boxing News: John Duddy Hits Chicago

NEW YORK (July 8, 2005) – Undefeated Irish middleweight John Duddy (10-0, 9 KOs) faces veteran Patrick Coleman (29-11, 20 KOs) July 20 in the eight-round main event of a Bobby Hitz-promoted show at 115 Bourbon St. in Chicago.

Duddy, a Derry, Ireland native now fighting out of Queens (NY), has quickly become one of the most exciting prospects in boxing. “I’m looking forward to fighting in Chicago for the first time,” he said. “I have some friends who I fought with in Ireland who are living in Chicago, so I’m sure I’ll receive a good reception. Coleman is an experienced fighter who has 29 wins. I’ve trained as hard as ever for this fight and hopefully this fight will help keep me moving up the ladder.”

Coleman holds victories against two former world champions, Saoul Mamby and Jose Antonio Rivera, and he’s also fought the likes of Buddy McGirt, Teddy Reid and Vitali Kopitko.

Duddy is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision (80-72 on all three cards) June 11 against Patrick Thompson at Madison Square Garden. “I’m glad my first fight to go the distance was at Madison Square Garden with all those people there to see that I’m not just a bull, but a boxer-puncher. He (Thompson) fought a smart fight and he took some good shots. As much as I may spar eight or ten rounds in the gym, I needed to confirm that I could go eight rounds in a fight. I finished so strong that I was happier than if I’d won by first round knockout.”