Duddy Fight Plan Set

JOHN Duddy (25-0) will fight on November 6 in Long Island and, all going to plan, will take on Ronald Hearns (19-0) in January 2009 in New York City.

Irish Ropes supremo Eddie McLoughlin has been in negotiations with Hearns' promoter Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment about the January match. The 29-year-old Hearns, son of the legendary Tommy, will fight two times before this proposed bout; this Wednesday in New Hampshire against Alexander Pacheo Quiroz and on October 24 against Paul Clavette in Montreal.

If he emerges unscathed and unbeaten, and Duddy does the same in his November fight, the two should meet early in the New Year.

"We are very close to a deal," said DiBella. "Both John and Ronald will fight in the fall, and there is an overwhelmingly strong possibility that the fight will take place in January," continued the promoter, who added that there was strong TV interest in the bout.

"John is a step up for Ronald and Ronald is a step up for John, and it will be a truly competitive fight," said DiBella, who stressed that both boxers needed a fight of this magnitude to vault the winner closer to the big time.

Though no opponent has been confirmed for the November Duddy fight, the fight night is being put together by former professional heavyweight fighter Joey Winters and DiBella. The event is scheduled to take place in Westbury, Long Island.

For Irish Ropes, thoughts of Hearns subside until the November date is out of the way. "John will top the bill in a 10 rounder against someone who is around the 156-157 pound range and someone who has been around the horn a bit," said McLoughlin.

"It will be a fight to keep John from going rusty, to keep his name out there and obviously get him more time with Pat Burns after the great improvement from the last fight. Hopefully they can build on that and get better."

If they successfully negotiate this hurdle, then Hearns will loom large in the fray. "It is a statement fight. John needed these to get the interest from TV, but a good performance here would be great and it could be very lucrative for the winner," said McLoughlin.

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Nster.com