BoxRec

With only 18 professional bouts under his belt, the fighting Irishman already has his own PPV special with him as the headliner. I know boxing is starving for a star, desperate for another attraction, but don't you think the move is too soon?

I've seen many a guy moved up too soon only to end up into oblivion, the basement of boxing's has beens and a Who's Who of quick to turn journeymen. Tommy Morrison, though a heavyweight, is one of the better examples I can name when it comes to this.

Here Morrison was blasting away four-six-eight round fighters away and with the exception of an over the hill drug addict in Pinklon Thomas, he never fought relatively anybody of any merit yet was pushed into fighting Ray Mercer and we all know what happened.

Morrison did manage to rebound with a impressive win over George Foreman, then again relapsed into failure against unknown Michael Bent and then bounced back beating guys like Razor Ruddock and Joe Hipp only to lose to Lennox Lewis and then get HIV.

Not to say Duddy will get HIV, that's not the point or argument I am making here, but you get the jist of what I am saying. Duddy is very exciting to watch and could very well be a star, hell I remember the first television spot he had on a national level (Friday Night Fights March 17th St. Patrick's Day special, under card for McBride who was a few months awat from fighting Tyson).

But he has went from fighting D and some C level guys, and is now gonna take on a guy who is a solid B+ fighter. I hope Duddy wins and surprises not only the critics but myself as well, but even though the sky might be the limit for him, I can just invision another Morrison.

So who is he fighting? I had Yory Boy Campas beating him by a couple of rounds.

I like to watch him fight, got balls, heart, nice kid
But really not on the World level
good luck to him
we can still enjoy his fights

Anthony Bonsante is who he is going to fight on the 16th on PPV.

It's only Bonsante, i'm sure he'll stop him sooner rather than later. Probably a step down from Campas

Comparing Bonsante to an unbeaten hungry Mercer is kinda going a bit over the top.

If Duddy is going anywhere, he should have the tools to deal with Bonsante.

Twinkle Toes wrote:Comparing Bonsante to an unbeaten hungry Mercer is kinda going a bit over the top.

If Duddy is going anywhere, he should have the tools to deal with Bonsante.

Didnt Bonsante give Allan Green a decent fight?

Everyone is raving about Green

If Duddy was going anywhere, he should have taken out a 40 year old punched out welterweight like Yory-Boy Campas.

Bonsante after 18 fights? Is that 'moving too fast'??

Duddy is exciting and has that crowd pleasing style but he leaves his left arm out hanging after throwing a jab and takes too many head shots. Frankly he will be a crowd pleaser ala Arturo Gatti but if he has anymore wars like he did with Campas he will be punchy by the time he hits 25 bouts.

Nice kid, good heart and basic skills but as soon as he steps up to anywhere near world level i'm afraid he gets stopped.

For Irish prospects with greater substance see Andy Lee and James Moore.

KO Artist wrote:

Twinkle Toes wrote:Comparing Bonsante to an unbeaten hungry Mercer is kinda going a bit over the top.

If Duddy is going anywhere, he should have the tools to deal with Bonsante.

Didnt Bonsante give Allan Green a decent fight?

Everyone is raving about Green

Nah, Bonsante took a pounding for 5 rounds.

If Duddy has any hope of becoming a champ one day, he should beat Bonsante comfortably. I do not see this as a step up too soon.

If you're considering MSG and PPV as "moving too quickly", that's one issue. If you're considering his opponents to date as a "moving too quickly" that's another issue. Some fighters can or can't handle one or both issues at any given time.

Tommy Morrison could NOT handle the fame. He screwed at every opportunity, which, if you've ever been around a professional, promonent athlete, is a massive undertaking. He had plenty of talent to compete with the big boys but the accomodations to fame came before the accomodations to training.

John Duddy is far from that. He's entirely dedicated to one woman. His training comes before all other aspects of his life. When he steps into the ring you're going to see the best John Duddy that he is capable of being on that particular night.

As far as his progressive competition toward the top, all opponents are well calculated. When he needs a hard one, he gets a tough one. If he needs a break (which all fighters do), he gets a lesser opponent. All of which are progressive steps moving toward the middleweight championship. Opponents are chosen primarily for style and body type and not necessarily for potential competitiveness.

My feeling is that your example is far from relative. These are 2 entirely different animals. And, while Tommy Morrison was a creature almost entirely developed by the press, Duddy is a true "grass roots" phenomenoa who had no distinguished amateur background and no movie star uncle.

Jabby wrote:If you're considering MSG and PPV as "moving too quickly", that's one issue. If you're considering his opponents to date as a "moving too quickly" that's another issue. Some fighters can or can't handle one or both issues at any given time.

Tommy Morrison could NOT handle the fame. He screwed at every opportunity, which, if you've ever been around a professional, promonent athlete, is a massive undertaking. He had plenty of talent to compete with the big boys but the accomodations to fame came before the accomodations to training.

John Duddy is far from that. He's entirely dedicated to one woman. His training comes before all other aspects of his life. When he steps into the ring you're going to see the best John Duddy that he is capable of being on that particular night.

As far as his progressive competition toward the top, all opponents are well calculated. When he needs a hard one, he gets a tough one. If he needs a break (which all fighters do), he gets a lesser opponent. All of which are progressive steps moving toward the middleweight championship. Opponents are chosen primarily for style and body type and not necessarily for potential competitiveness.

My feeling is that your example is far from relative. These are 2 entirely different animals. And, while Tommy Morrison was a creature almost entirely developed by the press, Duddy is a true "grass roots" phenomenoa who had no distinguished amateur background and no movie star uncle.

I was hoping to go to NYC for this years St. Patrick's Day, however I am unable - is there any way of seeing the fight over here? or even on line or do I have to wait for some kid to put it on youtube?

Good luck Ireland's John Duddy

Would Bosante beat Yori Boy?

stujones wrote:Would Bosante beat Yori Boy?

I dont know, what I do know is the it wouldnt be a PPV offering at MSG

[quote="sligobhoy67"][/quote]

I was hoping to go to NYC for this years St. Patrick's Day, however I am unable - is there any way of seeing the fight over here? or even on line or do I have to wait for some kid to put it on youtube?

Good luck Ireland's John Duddy

Secondsout.com is streaming it throught the world with the exception of North America (PPV), for a small fee. Checkout their website for details.

sligobhoy67 wrote:

stujones wrote:Would Bosante beat Yori Boy?

I don't think so. Bonsante is the perfect style for Yori Boy. He'd do exactly what John did in the rounds that John lost. He wouldn't have the ability to switch to Plan B when required. Campas in 6.

Wish Duddy all the best, nd that h makes some dollars, he has a crowd pleasing style and may pic up a minor title at some point. However, as I mentioned in teh thread that got deleted, I don't think he's even the best middlweight on that card, let alone a championship prospect