Story by Irish Paddy Cronan / Photo by Jason McDonald | Thu. June 24, 2010
On Sat. June 26 Ireland’s John Duddy enters the ring as an underdog. For much of his career the 31-year-old Duddy has been the protagonist, next Saturday he takes on his role as the villain. The Derry native will relish his opportunity to rain on Chavez Jr.’s party.
“As far as I’m concerned as long as I’m able to get into the ring with him, I’ve got the say in my own two hands," explained Duddy. "At the end of the day that’s all you can ask for. San Antonio or Timbuktu I really couldn’t care less. There is nothing more inspiring than being in the gym and knowing you are going into a fight behind - being the underdog. This is my first time as a pro going into a stadium that won't be cheering for me. These things are put up against you, and there is no better sport in the world to deal with it. I’m just looking forward and I cant wait to get down there and show the world what I can do.”
Sources close to Bob Arum have indicated the Hall of Fame promoter feels a win is already in the bag for Chavez.
World renowned trainer Freddie Roach knows better.
“Duddy is a tough guy and he's definitely Chavez’s toughest fight to date," Roach confided. "I wish they would have gave me a tune up fight or something. In a perfect world of course that would be great, but we don’t live in that perfect world where we can have everything we want. Duddy is a very sound fighter - a very good puncher. It's not an easy fight by any means. Could I have got the perfect game plan done in such a short amount of time? Probably not. Duddy has some good coaches and I’m sure they will come up with a good game plan also.”
Some Mexican fans are predicting a win by stoppage for their man.
An anonymous Youtuber proclaimed, "Julio is gonna beat that ass. Duddy has no chin, he is slow, doesn’t punch hard and cuts easy. Chavez by TKO.”
To say Duddy has no chin is sheer lunacy.
Former world champion and current Sky Sports commentator Jim Watt said it best, “Sometimes there is a case for being simply too tough. If he wasn’t as solid chinned as he is then he would have to think a bit more.”
In his last few fights it seems Duddy has been thinking a bit more.
Roach elaborated, “Duddy has been learning and maturing. He’s getting a little savvier. He was much gamer and much more exciting previously, but he also put himself in harms way a lot more.”
Since the Walid Smichet fight in Feb. 2008 we haven't seen Duddy employ his patented "to hell and back style." This leads many to question if the fire still burns inside him.
Duddy looks like a man who has been trying to harness that fire, but in doing so has lost his “edge.” He knows what he is up against. He knows that boxing alone simply wont cut it in Texas. He knows he has to take Chavez to war.
Duddy is comfortable with this kind of a fight, and knows he has what is required. Chavez on the other hand, has some question marks about him.
What will Chavez do when he has thrown everything at Duddy and the relentless Irishman is still in his face?
It’s clear from speaking with Duddy that he believes Chavez will fold under his game plan, “I’m going to go in and do what I usually do, and that’s hit him as often as possible until he quits. They say this game is about hit and not get hit, I know myself I’m not a pretty dancer."
"I know one thing, and that is it’s going to be a fan friendly fight, I’ve proven before in many of my fights - I’ve probably taken a bit more punishment than I should, but I’ve proven that I can take it if needs be. I’ve got the guns to back it up as well, and I won't be quitting. I hope it will be a great fight people remember for a very long time.”
The script for Saturday's fight may have already been written by the powers that be in boxing; if Duddy cuts Chavez will win by TKO, if it goes the distance Chavez will win on points.
Saturday it's up to "The Derry Destroyer" to tear the script apart. He will need to relight the fire within himself, that same fire that brought him legions of fans on both sides of the Atlantic. There is even a chance Duddy may win over the Mexican fans.
What a spectacle it would be, for a stadium filled with Mexican fans to cheer on an Irish warrior as he fought against all the odds to beat the son of one of the greatest (if not the greatest) Mexican boxers of all time. As unlikely a scenario as it may seem, it wouldn't be the strangest thing to have happened in this storied sport.