Time to Fight for Moore, Duddy

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Irish Voice Sport

Time to Fight for Moore, Duddy

July 13, 2007

By Declan O’Kelly

WICKLOW native James Moore will take on Chris Overbey in an eight-round fight in the main event at “Punchin’ in the Paradise 4,” July 12 at the Paradise Theater in the Bronx.

In a search for an opponent that has had more twists and turns than the ring of Kerry, Overbey will be the man standing between Moore and his 12th consecutive win. The 37-year-old from Ohio has a record of 8-6 (2 KOs).

Moore, who has been preparing in the Catskills recently, is back in New York and more than ready to rumble. “I am sick of training at this stage and just want to get in there and fight,” the light middle-weight told the Irish Voice.

The fight, originally planned for June 28, cannot come soon enough for Moore, who fought 314 times as an amateur and has some hard decisions to make. If Moore wins on July 12, he will be named prospect of the year. However, the uncertainty of his career trajectory has given him some food for thought.

“After this fight we are going to have a serious sit down, because it is very hard to move forward when I seem to be going backwards sometimes. I think I am going to have to sign with a promoter. It’s hard to stay on the outside as no one will give you the fights or bring you on if you are not signed with them,” said a fairly exasperated Moore.

At 29, Moore needs move up the charts fairly lively to realize his ambitions as a professional boxer. Not knowing the identity of your opponent from one week to the next can only be a source of frustration and distraction.

Tickets at $30 and $50 for the fight are still available by calling 917-559-8467 or 718-536 2222.

Andy Lee, meanwhile, made quick work of Thomas Hengstberger in Cologne on Saturday night, knocking him out 1:22 in the second round of their scheduled eight-round contest. The unbeaten middle-weight is now 10-0 (7 KOs) and will fight next in Dublin on August 25 at the Point.

Lee has impressed many in the boxing world with his comportment and the ease with which he has embraced the professional code. In a recent interview with the Irish Voice, Wayne McCullough spoke about how impressed he was with the 23-year-old southpaw.

John Duddy’s homecoming fight in July 14 at the National Stadium in Dublin is here, and the Derryman arrived in a rainy Dublin on Sunday for the final stages of preparations ahead of his professional debut in Ireland.

“I am just working on perfecting on what I can do, and correcting the mistakes that I have been making in my last few fights,” Duddy told the Irish Voice from Ireland.

As well as it being his first pro fight on Irish soil, it will also be Duddy’s first fight with trainer Don Turner, who recently replaced Harry Keitt. The biggest chink in Duddy’s armor is that he gets hit too often and too easily, and his defensive deficiencies had some influence on his management’s decision to change trainer.

But can Turner turn the tide, pun intended, on Duddy’s sometimes leaky guard?

The impetus will be on Duddy to put on a good show. If he can explode onto the Irish scene as he did in New York, then he could really solidify and increase his fan base at home.

The major part of Ireland still has to experience the “Duddy” effect. If he puts on a top-notch performance and displays some of his knockout charm before and after, then everything really would be Hunky Dory (the potato chip manufacturer who is sponsoring the fight).

If his display is technically and defensively more assured, it might also in some small way vindicate the decision to go with a new trainer. First and foremost though is the man in the other corner, Italy’s Alessio Furlan.

Duddy, 28, who is staying away from family and friends in the run up to the fight, is training twice a day at the Bray Boxing Club. Does he feel a hint of extra nerves ahead of his Irish debut?

“No, definitely not. At the end of the day I am here to take care of business and I am not going to relax until I get the job done,” said Duddy.

Duddy spoke in positive terms about his new association with Turner. “Like any other relationship, it takes time, but we are both on the same page. We know what needs to be done and I am listening to everything he is telling me, and hopefully this will be very fruitful in the future.”

So what can Duddy nation in New York expect from him on Saturday? “The usual – hopefully another win in an action-packed fight. Furlan likes to come fighting too, and you know you don’t have to come looking for me, so it going to be very exciting.”

The fight is available on cable pay-per-view for $19.95 starting at 5 p.m. EST. Integrated Sports are distributing via iN Demand and TVN and a replay broadcast will be shown at 10 p.m. EST on July 14.

For more information go to www.irishropes.com or www.Integratedsportsnet.com.

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