Ireland's John Duddy loved boxing but boxing never loved him as much he did it.
So, at the age of 31 and having lost in a title shot against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Ireland's John Duddy was looking at a nice, $100,000 plus St. Patrick's Weekend paynight against countryman Andy Lee, the Derryman against the lad from Limerick.
On Tuesday, realizing he had lost his zest for training and fighting, Ireland's John Duddy looked in the mirror and told himself the truth.
Then, the 29-2, 18 KOs, fighter pulled the plug on his career, 20 years of living as a fighter must and now the end.
Here's the word from RTE in Ireland:
"The battle of the Irish middleweights was scheduled to take place in Connecticut on the undercard of the Sergio Martinez versus Serhiy Dzinziruk bout on March 12.
"The Derry Destroyer released a statement on Tuesday confirming that he had retired after 'a great deal of soul-searching' and stated that his decision is final stating, 'I give you my word; I will not come back'.
"In many ways, continuing to fight would be the easy course of action. I have been offered the opportunity to fight Andy Lee on HBO for a purse in excess of $100,000. A win would put me in position to fight for a world championship. This is not an opportunity that I cast aside lightly.
"For more than twenty years, I loved being a boxer. I still feel that it's an enormous honor to be a boxer. But I don't love it anymore.
"I no longer have the enthusiasm and willingness to make the sacrifices that are necessary to honour the craft of prizefighting. I used to love going to the gym. Now it's a chore. I wish I still had the hunger, but I don't. The fire has burned out. And I know myself well enough to know that it won't return.
"
Instead of damning Duddy, who leaves him with a major hole on his Foxwoods card, promoter Lou DiBella praised Duddy for making what he called "a courageous decision.
"A lot of guys would have and a lot of guys in a similar situation, knowing they did not have it anymore, have taken the money and run. Those guys have done that but John Duddy did not," DiBella said.
"At first, sure, I was upset but John doesn't have the stomach for it anymore and I've got nothing but best wishes for him down the road. John, whatever his limitations, always came to fight and was an honest fighter in the ring.
"No one ever said John Duddy defrauded the fans."
Trying to keep close to the Irish theme, DiBella said a possible replacement foe for the tall, hard-hitting southpaw Lee (handled by Manny Steward) is Coach Freddie Roach's Scottish veteran Craig McIntosh McEwan.
McEwan, who is from Edinburgh, is a 6-1 lefthander with a 19-0, 10 knockouts record. He is aligned with Golden Boy.
Lefty Lee owns a record 24-1 with 18 KOs. He is handled by Emanuel Steward of Kronk Gym/Thomas Hearns fame.
"I looked to Peter Manfredo (for an Italian-Irish matchup) but Peter is still too banged from the fight he won on ESPN last Friday night in Key West."
Duddy was backed the bar-restaurant owning McLaughlin Brothers and then abruptly dumped them to align with manager Craig Hamilton, sparking a lawsuit between the parties.
Duddy's only other pro defeat was at the hands of 18-7 journeyman Billy Lyell. He also struggled with ancient Yory Boy Campas and the nothing special Walid Smichet along the way.
Comments
flyod is overrated he defeated fighters like corrales, baldomir, judah that will be an easy
fight for the pacman... the american media hyped flyod to replaced the likes of ali and jones
jr. i trully believe the reason why flyod dont fight the pacman cause he will be brutally
exposed, and all the boxing genius writers can made up excuses when manny destroyed flyod
just like the way they did to dela hoya, clottey, morales and cotto.
1.Manny fights ODLH, 10yrs past when he last fought at 147..and AFTER he’s been beat by Shane, B-hop, and Floyd.
2.Manny fights Hatton..AFTER Floyd KO’s him.
3.Manny fights Cotto…AFTER Margo beat him down.
4.Manny fights Clottey…AFTER the already worn down Cotto beat the then #5 ranked bum.
5.Manny fights Margo…AFTER Mosley KO’d him.
6.Now Manny wants to fight Shane…AFTER he’s been desamated by Floyd.
7.Manny said no to Shane when he asked for a fight when he was doing well.
8.Manny now says Martinez is too big at 5’10″…but just beat the run down Margo…who is 5’11″
Very admirable.
GET THIS STRAIGHT!!!
1.Manny fights ODLH, 10yrs past when he last fought at 147..and AFTER he’s been beat by Shane, B-hop, and Floyd.
2.Manny fights Hatton..AFTER Floyd KO’s him.
3.Manny fights Cotto…AFTER Margo beat him down.
4.Manny fights Clottey…AFTER the already worn down Cotto beat the then #5 ranked bum.
5.Manny fights Margo…AFTER Mosley KO’d him.
6.Now Manny wants to fight Shane…AFTER he’s been desamated by Floyd.
7.Manny said no to Shane when he asked for a fight when he was doing well.
8.Manny now says Martinez is too big at 5’10″…but just beat the run down Margo…who is 5’11″
Very admirable.
HAHAHAHAHA!! Martinez said he can't go below 154,it's funny how you change things.hahahahahahahha!! Pacroid defeated most of Mayweather's left-overs!! and the left-overs of others too....
@Silverstreak
1.ODLH accepted the challange..and refuse to fight after 8th round TKO
chicken floyd won by decision....Loser
2.Manny KO hatton in the 2nd round
chicken floyd won after 10th round....weak boxer
3.Manny fight Cotto right....
chicken floyd Ducked Cotto many times...loser
4.Manny fight Clottey correct...
chicken floyd Ducked Clottey too.....
5.Manny fights Margo....yes
chicken floyd Ducked Margo... why? Afraid to lose ...hahahhah
6.Manny fights Mosley..yeah
because chicken floyd doesnt have the balls to face pacman at least Mosley have it....hahhahah
7.Manny fights anyone his promoter put in front of him
chicken floyd cherry picked......his opponents...hahhaha
8.It is simply because Martinez cant fight Manny at 154lbs...
Martinez has been very vocal that he cant make 156 lbs below...
well ask floydie i know he can make that weight...a
for the record... Floydie was 2 lbs.heavier when he fought Marquez.....hahhahha cant even make the exact weight...so just to be sure he wont lose that fight her over weigh him self....hahahhaha...
A very admirable boxer he is also........
3.
@awd
GET THIS STRAIGHT!!!
1.Manny fights ODLH, 10yrs past when he last fought at 147..and AFTER he’s been beat by Shane, B-hop, and Floyd.
2.Manny fights Hatton..AFTER Floyd KO’s him.
3.Manny fights Cotto…AFTER Margo beat him down.
4.Manny fights Clottey…AFTER the already worn down Cotto beat the then #5 ranked bum.
5.Manny fights Margo…AFTER Mosley KO’d him.
6.Now Manny wants to fight Shane…AFTER he’s been desamated by Floyd.
7.Manny said no to Shane when he asked for a fight when he was doing well.
8.Manny now says Martinez is too big at 5’10″…but just beat the run down Margo…who is 5’11″
Very admirable.
HAHAHAHAHA!! Martinez said he can't go below 154,it's funny how you change things.hahahahahahahha!! Pacroid defeated most of Mayweather's left-overs!! and the left-overs of others too....
Puro kayo mayweather ang layo sa topic...get a life
John Duddy is a kind of a fighter who always come into a fight with a big Irish heart to properly compensate his limited boxing skills. He cuts pretty easily, ain't quick on his feet and ain't possess a hard punching power of an elite champion of the sport and ain't that much exciting to watch either.
I saw boredom in his fights and it was a better decision to just hang-up the gloves 'coz once the desire to perform and excel to an elite level ain't inspiring anymore then it really the right time to move on. He seems to me like he's a nice and humble person though. Good luck!...
well said, sir, well said
Limerick dedicated to Duddy:
there was a young lad named John Duddy
a boxer who drew a small salary
decided to quit and kept his integrity
did he cry? he said: no way
went home to his paddy and ate some spuddy
pacquiao beat cotto, clottey, margarito, 3 of the top 6 welterweights. floyd hasn't faced any of them. floyd is chicken. pacquiao > floyd anytime.
@ SilverStreak
HAHAHHAHA!!!!!!funny it is...the truth is Mayweather Ducked most of the fighter you call left-overs..... so where in hell is your Idol!!!!
stop enumirating those facts of yours and tell Mayweather to fight Manny......ohhhh!! I forgot he wont face Manny cause chicken Floyd didnt have the balls to even hold the pen to sign the contract
and fight Manny...hahhahahhha!!!!!!!!
Fraud will be remembered" THE GREATEST DUCKER OF ALL TIME" haahhahahahhah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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