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10/01/2006 Archived Entry: "Ole-Ole-Ole-Ole, John Duddy is for real!"
Ole-Ole-Ole-Ole, John Duddy is for real!
Dramatically impressive win over Campos amazes MSG crowd
By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
September 30, 2006
Photos by Emily Harney
EDubbs@yahoo.com
Duddy (left) and Campos trade bombs
New York - The 3,852 fight fans that crammed their way into the Theater at Madison Square Garden Friday night were treated to a classic, throw-back of a twelve round non-stop action middleweight brawl between former world champion Luis Ramon "Yory Boy" Campos and the increasingly popular Irish John Duddy. Their battle for the vacant IBA middleweight title was truly boxing at its best. An obvious step up in opposition for the talented, yet raw, Duddy, Campos proved to be even more of a test than anyone bargained for. Thought never to be the same since losing his IBF Light Middleweight title almost eight years ago in a brutal fight against Fernando Vargas (12/12/98, Campos couldn't continue after round seven), Campos looked better than he had in years, and brought his heart and soul with him for what he knew would be a very difficult fight.
Duddy, a native of Derry, Ireland who now calls New York his home, came out strong in round one and gave his legion of diehard fans good reason to cheer. Their "Duddy-Duddy-Duddy" chants quickly turned to groans of concern early in round two, as Campos began landing his big left hooks, which cut Duddy above his left eye. A solid right staggered the tough Irish fighter and Campos followed up his aggressive assault, hurting Duddy again in round three, pounding away with a smart and deadly body attack and gaining in his confidence as the fight neared the midway point.
Now bleeding over both eyes and being roughed up like he has never been in his young professional career, Duddy showed the will and character that all true champions possess and continued to forge ahead and trade power shots with the proven Mexican fighter.
Appearing to catch his second wind and relying on his tremendous conditioning, thanks to the incomparable work of revered head trainer Harry Keitt, truly one of the better trainers in the business, Duddy began throwing his hard jab more often and his efforts began paying quick dividends. As this Gatti vs. Ward, Graziano vs. Zale-type fight approached round nine, the fight appeared extremely close, yet is was now Duddy who was taking control, while Campos was swelling up and slowing down on his punches.
Sensing their hero has weathered the storm and may be out of harms way, the crowd erupts back into the fight and the Garden returned to its earlier deafening clamor. As the decibel level reached new heights with the Duddy-Duddy-Duddy chants cascading from the rafters, and the Irish celebrating like it was St. Patrick's Day in late September, Duddy drove a defeated looking Campos into the ropes and banged away to the body and head, in lethal fashion.
A solid left hand in the beginning of round ten sent Campos sprawling to the canvas, yet referee Hubert Earle ruled it a slip. For the next six minutes Duddy battered Campos with a tenacious assault and a weary "Yory Boy" stumbled back to his corner, somehow surviving the vicious onslaught.
The crowd was on their feet as respected ring announcer Joe Antonacci gave notice of the twelfth and final round. No script for this exhilarating fight could have been written any better than the way these two proud boxers came out and fought those last three minutes. Basically toe-to-toe and going punch-for-punch, a determined Duddy and a desperate Campos threw bombs and both let their offense be their defense. Campos caught his foe with several clean uppercuts and left hooks and had Duddy on the ropes as this terrifically exciting came to an end. Judges Tom Kaczmarek and Tom Schreck scored it 117-111 and 116-112 respectively, while class guy and former WBC Light Welterweight title holder Billy Costello saw it the more appropriate 115-113, all for the winner and "NEW" IBA Middleweight Champion, Irish John Duddy!
Truly a great fight, which unfortunately wasn't televised. Duddy, now 18-0 (15 KO's) and Campos, 88-9 with 72 KO's, are to be commended for their outstanding performances. Both fighters left it all in the ring and gave of their hearts, a true champion's effort. While Duddy gets the hard fought and well earned "W" and title belt, the legendary "Yory Boy" Campos proved he is also a winner. Witnessing this masterpiece of a boxing match, the fans also felt like winners, and will be talking about this breathtaking brawl for a long time to come.
On the Irish Ropes Boxing undercard at Madison Square Garden:
Julio "Baby Face" Garcia made short work of fellow Mexican Ernesto Zapada, dropping his overwhelmed opponent three times en route to a third round knockout win. Garcia improved to 38-2 (31 KO's), while Zapada slips to 37-11-4 (30KO's).
New York super middleweight prospect Joe Greene pounded Puerto Rico's Luis Hodge from the opening bell of the scheduled eight round bout, until the 1:20 mark of round six, when the overmatched Hodge's corner threw in the towel. The highly touted Greene, now 12-0 (9 KO's), dominated, hurting Hodge (5-2, 3 KO's) in round one, with a dangerous barrage culminating with a monster left hand which knocked the stunned fighter onto the ropes and down to the canvas. Hodge then turned defensive and went into survival mode until the inevitable, taking a good beating in the process.
Young, talented middleweight James Moore (9-0, 7 KO's) remained unbeaten and also pleased the predominately Irish fight crowd with his 2nd round TKO blowout over a mismatched Willie Cruz, from Puerto Rico. The highly skilled Moore knocked down Cruz, who fell to 3-7 (2 KO's), with a picture perfect barrage before a 2:41 stoppage in that fateful round two.
Simon O'Donnell tried to make a fight of it, but Philadelphia's Terrance Miller (2-2) did not. After several warnings by referee Mike Ortega, Miller was disqualified for his unwillingness to fight. O'Donnell, who was obviously frustrated by the fact of his not being able to show his skills at boxing's Mecca did manage to improve to 2-0.
In the shows opening bout Puerto Rican fighter Yukence Andino stayed perfect with his six round unanimous decision victory over Cuban native Carlos Aballe, who fell to 5-3 (3 KO's). While the judges' scores don't seem to indicate as such; 60-53 and two scorecards which read 59-54, Aballe's resiliency made for a tougher fight than the scores would lead to believe.
Irish Ropes Boxing and DRL Promotions deserve an "atta boy" for delivering such an exciting night of boxing, highlighted by the Duddy vs. Campos main event, which should get many votes for the Boxing Writers of America Assoc. (BWAA) "Fight of the Year" honor. Great night, great fight!
