BOXING:John Duddy hasn't stepped into the ring in the National Boxing Stadium since February 22nd, 2002. He was an amateur then, yet to embark on a professional career that would yield an undefeated record of 20 wins and 15 knock-outs.
He hadn't sold out Madison Square Garden, a feat he has achieved twice, and was yet to display the qualities that have made him into one of the biggest draws in middleweight boxing.
Tonight, he returns to show the old country what all the fuss is about. His fanbase in the US will be watching too, if they have the $20 to spare, for the Derry-born boxer is the first Irishman to have a fight booked on pay-per-view for a Stateside audience.
His opponent, 30-year-old Italian Alessio Furlan, promises a fight worthy of the occasion. He's a veteran of 32 fights with 19 wins, eight losses and five draws. He arrived at the weigh-in yesterday with his nickname, The Warrior, shaved into his hair, and tipped the scales at 161.15lb, a fraction heavier than Duddy (160.71lb).
Furlan claims to have identified the Irishman's weaknesses, but refused to divulge too much too soon. "It is an exciting fight on paper," he said. "I don't have many chances, but I can exploit the few chances I have. I will wait until tomorrow to show you what they are."
He recently took the European champion, Sebastian Sylvester of Germany, to the 12th round before suffering a technical knock-out.
Duddy refused to be drawn on plans for a European title shot, making it clear that issue is plotted by the McLoughlin brothers, Eddie and Tony, whose Irish Ropes banner he fights under. The 27-year-old is focused on producing for a Dublin audience that is sure to be infiltrated by a sizeable Derry contingent.
"I don't make forecasts . . . I never plan to go in for an early finish, but if the opportunity pops up I'll take it because if I hurt you I can take you out."
Furlan admits he's not a big puncher, which could be good for Duddy because he and his new trainer, Don Turner, acknowledge the Derryman can get hit too much. Turner has trained 19 world champions and believes he has a 20th in Duddy.
Also on the card tonight is another undefeated Derryman, Paul McCloskey, who faces a stern test in the shape of Argentinian welterweight Ivan Orlando Bustos.
Weights - John Duddy (160.7lb) v Alessio Furlan (161.5lb); Paul McCloskey (141.5lb) v Ivan Orlando Bustos (142.6lb); Stephen Haughian (142.5lb) v Gary O'Connor (141.3lb); Eugene Heagney (121.4lb) v Colin Moffett (122.4lb); Patrick Hyland (129.9lb) v Roman Rafael (132.7lb); Declan Timlin (231.2lb) v Peter Szabo (206.4lb).
Boxing on TV Tonight
UTV (from 9.10pm)
Matt Skelton v Michael Sprott
Amir Khan v Willie Limond
RTÉ 2 (from 10pm)
John Duddy v Alessio Furlan
Sky Sports 1 (from 2am)
Antonio Margarito v Paul Williams
