By Jim Dower: Middleweight contender John Duddy (28-1, 18 KO’s) will be getting a prime visibility fight by facing light middleweight contender Michael Medina (22-1, 17 KO’s) on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey WBO welterweight title fight on March 13th at the Dallas Cowboy stadium, in Arlington, Texas. Duddy, 30, is being given a golden opportunity to show off his talent in front of a huge crowd and likely in front of a large pay-per-view audience as well who will be turning in to see the Pacquiao-Clottey fight.
Duddy, ranked #12 in the World Boxing Organization middleweight division has been brought at a glacial pace during his seven year pro career and very carefully matched. Duddy was unbeaten up until last year, when he was beaten by fringe contender Billy Lyell by a 10 round decision in April. Duddy’s lack of defense betrayed him in that fight as he took countless right hands to the head from Lyell in that fight and make him look like a champion in the process instead of just a fringe contender.
That loss wiped out pretty much any chance for Duddy to get a title shot against WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Duddy similarly missed out on a big payday against Pavlik in 2008 after getting his face torn apart by the tough Canadian based slugger Walid Smichet in February 2008. Duddy had extensive stitches put in his face from the numerous cuts that Smichet opened up on Duddy’s face in that fight. Although Duddy won the fight by a 10 round majority decision, he might as well have lost it because he looked poor against a B level fighter and ended up missing out on a shot against Pavlik.
Since the Smichet fight, Duddy has continued to fight B level opposition, beating Charles Howe, Matt Vanda, Lyell, Michi Munoz and Juan Astorga. Duddy looked perhaps the best I’ve ever seen him in his last fight, a 1st round stoppage win over Astorga on January 23rd. Duddy put Astorga down two times and looked powerful in stopping him. However, it’s hard to tell how much improvement that Duddy has made because Astorga wasn’t a good test for Duddy to really determine how much he’s progressed as a fighter.
Medina, 23, is ranked number #13 in the WBC light middleweight division and has an impressive record. However, most of Medina’s wins have come against 2nd tier opposition as well. This will be good test for him as well to see if he’s as good as his record.
An argument could be made that a more deserving fighter should be on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Clottey fight than Duddy. Few people see Duddy as ever being capable of winning a title in the middleweight or the light middleweight divisions.
Source: boxingnews24.com
Duddy, ranked #12 in the World Boxing Organization middleweight division has been brought at a glacial pace during his seven year pro career and very carefully matched. Duddy was unbeaten up until last year, when he was beaten by fringe contender Billy Lyell by a 10 round decision in April. Duddy’s lack of defense betrayed him in that fight as he took countless right hands to the head from Lyell in that fight and make him look like a champion in the process instead of just a fringe contender.
That loss wiped out pretty much any chance for Duddy to get a title shot against WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Duddy similarly missed out on a big payday against Pavlik in 2008 after getting his face torn apart by the tough Canadian based slugger Walid Smichet in February 2008. Duddy had extensive stitches put in his face from the numerous cuts that Smichet opened up on Duddy’s face in that fight. Although Duddy won the fight by a 10 round majority decision, he might as well have lost it because he looked poor against a B level fighter and ended up missing out on a shot against Pavlik.
Since the Smichet fight, Duddy has continued to fight B level opposition, beating Charles Howe, Matt Vanda, Lyell, Michi Munoz and Juan Astorga. Duddy looked perhaps the best I’ve ever seen him in his last fight, a 1st round stoppage win over Astorga on January 23rd. Duddy put Astorga down two times and looked powerful in stopping him. However, it’s hard to tell how much improvement that Duddy has made because Astorga wasn’t a good test for Duddy to really determine how much he’s progressed as a fighter.
Medina, 23, is ranked number #13 in the WBC light middleweight division and has an impressive record. However, most of Medina’s wins have come against 2nd tier opposition as well. This will be good test for him as well to see if he’s as good as his record.
An argument could be made that a more deserving fighter should be on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Clottey fight than Duddy. Few people see Duddy as ever being capable of winning a title in the middleweight or the light middleweight divisions.
Source: boxingnews24.com
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