21.05.07 – By Christopher Roche – Commentary from Ringside. “Ireland’s” John Duddy entered the ring Friday night with a tight, new crewcut, and he traded in his traditional green trunks for blue with gold piping.
Despite his new look, the results stayed the same as Duddy graduated from the teens with his 20th straight victory.
Although Duddy’s opponent, Dupre “The Total Package” Strickland, of Slidell, LA, had most of us checking Boxrec, New York City’s Beacon Theater still hosted a spirited crowd that neared capacity. After absorbing a first round knockdown, Strickland managed to stay upright for the last nine, and he made a decent fight of it.
One ringside reporter stated the general consensus that when an opponent makes the journey from Louisiana to New York City, he is supposed to be knocked out. There was an undercurrent of disappointment because Strickland survived the distance. While I find it dubious to be disappointed with a dominant decision victory, I was surprised at Strickland’s ability to weather Duddy’s first-round ambush. However, upon further reflection, I realize that if Duddy knocked out Strickland in the first round, Duddy would have proved nothing and learned even less.
What transpired on Friday night was the best thing that could have happened to Duddy. Strickland traveled from the shores of Lake Ponchartrain determined not to be knocked out, and Duddy was able to reinforce three valuable lessons that I know he already knows:
1) As Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over until it is over.” Even though Strickland looked like he was past expiration in the first round, he had plenty left in the tank. Duddy was in for a long night, and he met the challenge without running out of steam.
2) Duddy overcame a potentially serious cut. The cut that Duddy suffered in the second round was in a bad spot, over his right eye, but his corner was able to completely close the wound within two rounds. After the great first round that Duddy had, suffering a cut was probably the furthest thing from his mind. However, when the blood flowed, there was no sense of panic. Duddy dug in and soldiered forward, and he calmly overcame the threat of adversity from the cut.
3) Duddy went the distance with a crafty southpaw. While Duddy and Strickland will not be confused with Jermain Taylor and Cory Spinks, the Duddy vs. Strickland fight had a similar tempo. I expected Duddy to knock out Strickland, the same way I expected Taylor to stop Spinks. I was wrong on both counts, but unlike Taylor, Duddy logged in some very good work, and he dominated Strickland on the cards. In the process Duddy got a good, long look at the punching angles of a decent southpaw.
Although Duddy is 27, he is a very young fighter in terms of his experience and development. He did not have a championship amateur career, and he has only been a professional for a handful of years. Nevertheless, Duddy patiently dominated a wily southpaw. When Duddy studies the tape, I bet realizes he took a huge step forward in his overall development, and he will continue to improve his craft.
After the bout I visited Duddy’s dressing room. I watched how he conducted himself. It was obvious he was disappointed in certain aspects of the fight, but he held a professional and polite demeanor. I did not ask him any questions, because I knew that boxing ace Tony Page of MSG Network already interviewed him in the ring, and I could go home and turn on the DVR to get the answers to my questions, through Tony. I am not one to bother fighters with needless redundancy, at least not on purpose.
I watched as Duddy had his cut examined while he sat on the trainer’s table. He had a movie camera in his face. Reporters crowded him with questions and comments, and people approached him from all directions. Through this organized chaos, I witnessed something amazing. After each person was finished talking to him, Duddy looked that person in the eye and said “thank you”. And he meant it.
Duddy fought through ten long rounds. He was charged up and disappointed, but he fought as hard as he could, and he was thanking us!
Duddy is a breath of fresh air in the world of spoiled and selfish professional athletics. Duddy is polite and generous with his time, and he always leaves his guts in the ring. Duddy has come a long way since fighting on a handshake deal just a few years ago. He is becoming a marquee attraction, and he is very approachable and down to earth. Humility and stardom do not usually go together, but Duddy continues to break the mold.
Duddy is now returning home to Ireland for two fights. Irish Ropes Promotions will undoubtedly sell truckloads of tickets. The hometown bouts are a nice gesture considering many of Duddy’s fans currently journey across the Atlantic to see him fight.
Duddy’s story is very compelling, and he makes my job easy. While I did not bother him on Friday night, I know that if I did, Duddy would have been gracious with his time; he always is. He treats those around him with respect and class, and for that I say, “Thank You.”
And I mean it.