Maspeth’s Duddy shows little rust in return

Since John Duddy made his professional debut in August of 2003, he’s been busy. The Derry, Ireland product fought 18 times in the next three years, an average of one bout every two months. He managed to fight so frequently because his power-punching prowess cut many of his fights short.
That all changed last September when the Maspeth resident’s mettle was tested in a gory 12-round unanimous decision over Mexican legend Luis Ramon “Yory Boy” Campas. Duddy (19-0, 15 KOs) won the brutal slugfest despite suffering three cuts over his left eye and one over his right in the early rounds.
But the aftereffects of the victory forced Duddy out of action for six months. In his time off, he took a longer look at what steps he needed to take to climb the ladder of the middleweight division. He professed a need to become more of a boxer and less of a puncher, to further develop his jab and movement.
After half a year away from the ring, his return may not have been flawless, but it was nevertheless a success. Duddy retained his IBA middleweight title and captured the vacant WBC Continental Americas crown, pounding Anthony Bonsante (19-9-3, 17 KOs) for nine rounds at The Theater at Madison Square Garden Friday night.
The scheduled 12-rounder was cut short when the blood from a cut on Bonsante’s forehead, caused by an inadvertent Duddy head butt in the second round, blurred his vision. As per New York State Athletic Commission rules, the judges’ cards decided the fight. All three ruled in favor of Duddy, who they each scored winning at least eight rounds.
Duddy did most of his damage with a sharp left hook, alternating his still improving jab and straight right hand. Giving himself a passing grade, the performance was by no means a sign that Duddy is ready for the elite fighters in the middleweight division. He grew impatient at times when Bonsante shied away from engaging, stalking him around the ring in search of a knockout, which he said, “I wanted and the crowd deserved.”
As was the case against Campas, Duddy failed to protect his face, taking unnecessary shots, in particular a pair of right hooks in the sixth that were followed by a left hand. “I don’t think I was as sharp as what I would’ve liked to have been,” he said.
Still, after a slow start, Duddy was in control the entire way. It was, after all, his first fight since September of 2006, the longest layoff in his career to date.
“It’s another step forward,” he said. “On this performance, we’re going to have many more people wanting to fight me, and that’s a good thing. I think it is an all-around statement.
“I’ll fight anyone,” he continued, “my team thinks I’m ready to fight.”