Exclusive: Duddy on Phillips
21 July 2008 – By Cormac Campbell
Light-middleweight star John Duddy wants to get back into the ring as soon as possible whether Verno Phillips is in the opposing corner or not.
Following an impressive victory over Charlie Howe in June, Duddys coach Pat Burns announced that his charge would be boiling down and seeking a title shot in the light-middleweight division. This sparked a media frenzy with IBF champion Verno Phillips mooted as the likely opponent for an autumn Odyssey Arena date.
Speaking exclusively to irish-boxing.com, the Derry Destroyer said that although Phillips is on his radar, his focus will not wane waiting for a deal to be struck.
There is nothing finalised yet so well have to wait and see, Duddy said.
Boxing is a short career and its my job so I want to get back in the ring as soon as possible.
Since out-pointing the tricky Howe in Boston last month, the 29-year-old has returned home to the Maiden City, keeping himself busy house-hunting and finding himself in demand as a pundit for state broadcasters BBC and RTE.
Despite this, Duddy is adamant that his American dream endures and that his policy of abandoning home comforts in the build up to a fight is something that will remain intact.
The TV work is a good bit of fun and I enjoy doing it, he admitted. Im in the process of looking for a place (in Derry) at the minute, too. My home is in Ireland and I love fighting here – but my career is in the United States.
