A spot on the undercard of the Miguel Cotto/Yuri Foreman fight on June 5 at Yankee Stadium looks like the next assignment for middleweight John Duddy (29-1, 18 KOs), who beat Michael Medina (23-2-2, 18 KOs) by split decision at Cowboys Stadium on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao/Joshua Clottey fight on Saturday.
Though no contracts have been signed, Duddy’s managerial advisor Craig Hamilton told IrishCentral that all indications are pointing to the Bronx for a summer fight.
“It is something we did talk briefly about after the fight and it looks like there is a desire on both parties (Top Rank and Duddy) to fight on that show, so I would say that we would more than likely be there,” said Hamilton on Monday.
He added that the feedback from Top Rank, which promoted the fight in Texas and will promote the Yankee Stadium card in June, was positive.
"I did not talk to Bob Arum, but I did talk to Todd DuBoef and other top people at Top Rank, and they were very pleased with the fight," continued Hamilton.
Duddy looked solid, if not spectacular, in the win, and though he did not make the statement he might have wished on the biggest stage of his career, he clocked up another victory.
“I thought John’s performance was okay. There are some things like in any fight that you wish were a little different. The guy he fought was a tough guy and took some great shots from John,” said Hamilton.
“He (Medina) was a little slicker that we thought he would be, but John came out of the fight clean and uncut, and I thought it was a good performance by him.”
Medina was deducted a point for a low blow in the eighth round, and the fight ended with a bang as the two traded stinging shots on the ropes before the final bell rang.
The Irishman was the busier fighter throughout and did enough over the course of the fight to get the nod from two of the three judges.
Judges Mike Mitchell and Charles Phillips scored it 96-93 for Duddy, while Arturo Velasquez scored it 96-93 in favor of Medina.
Duddy will take a short break before getting back in the gym to prepare for his next fight. The 30-year-old has been long talked about in a possible matchup with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and while Chavez Jr. is suspended until mid June and likely to take a warm up fight of his own, should the Irishman prevail on June 5, then a bout between the two could happen later in the year.
Though Hamilton said he would be happy if that fight could be worked out, he reiterated that his and Duddy’s focus would remain only on the next opponent.
In other news Paul Hyland (17-1, 5 KOs) won the vacant EBU-EU (European Union) super bantamweight title on Saturday night when he beat David Chianella by unanimous decision in Naples.
Finally, Irish-American light welterweight Danny O’Connor (10-0, 3 KOs) will headline a card in Lincoln, Rhode Island this Friday when he takes on Franklin Gonzalez (13-3, 9 KOs) in a contest scheduled for eight rounds.
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