There are real fears that Irish-born John Duddy may face a hometown decision in his world middleweight title elimination bout in San Antonio Texas on Saturday night.

He will face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a 12-round WBC middleweight title elimination bout Saturday (pay-per-view, 9 p.m. ET) at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The winner gets a shot at WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez.

"This fight is everything to John's future," Harry Keitt, his trainer told USA Today.


Duddy, 31, from Derry has a tough night ahead. Chavez, 24, is the son of a famous champion and is fighting on his own home patch and will have a huge home crowd advantage

Will that affect the judging?

Duddy's manager is afraid so "I've told John that when he gets to San Antonio, he's two points down already," Keitt said

Duddy responds by clenching his fists. "I've got two judges here, left and right," he says.

"I'm going to have to be put away for me to go away," Duddy says. "Most great fights come down to heart and courage. This will be one of those fights."

Keitt doesn't want Duddy trying for a knockout at all costs

"We're not trying for a knockout," Keitt says. "When you train for knockouts, you make mistakes. We're training for a win."

Duddy remains confident he can overcome, despite the home town advantage and possibly biased judges.

He has spent his life training for this moment.

"The path I've walked, I've paved for myself," Duddy says. "(Chavez) is walking a road that's already been done."

It has been an emotional few weeks for Duddy.

The Bloody Sunday report in Northern Ireland cleared his uncle, Jackie Duddy, who was only 17 when he was shot dead by paratroopers in January 1972.

The ringside bell will be rung ten times to remember him. Duddy's father will also be at ringside.