Duddy keeps focus on Munoz

Duddy: Focused on Munoz

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr is a fantastic fighter, he's got an unbelievable amount of fans and if it happens, it happens

John Duddy
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Northern Irish middleweight John Duddy has underplayed suggestions from promoter Bob Arum that he will clash with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr early next year.

New York-based Duddy, who has recorded 17 knock-outs, is making his comeback this weekend following the first defeat of his professional career last April against American Billy Lyell.

The 30-year-old will face US-based Mexican Jorge 'Michi' Munoz at Madison Square Garden on the undercard of a double world championship bill featuring WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez versus Roger Mtagwa and WBA featherweight titleholder Yuriorkis Gamboa against Whyber Garcia.

Promoters Top Rank are behind the card, with founder and president Arum known to admire Duddy and his ability to draw in the Irish and Irish-American New York communities.

Meanwhile, Chavez Jr is due to fight on the undercard of the showdown between two of Arum's biggest stars Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas next month.

Clash

The promoter is planning a clash between Chavez Jr and Duddy and has provisionally scheduled separate fights for both contenders in Mexico with the outlook of putting them in the ring together next March.

"If Chavez gets by November 14, the plan is for each of them to fight other opponents December 19 in Cancun, and then to fight back here in New York around St Patrick's (March 17)," said Arum.

"Duddy is coming back from a defeat, but we expect him to be featured in some major fights down the road. He is a very big crowd favourite in this area."

Duddy, however, has learned not to look too far ahead where his boxing career is concerned after a world title shot fell through last year.

Duddy was booked to meet middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, another of Arum's top-drawer fighters, but sustained a bad cut around his eye in a warm-up bout against Walid Smichet.

"Julio Cesar Chavez Jr is a fantastic fighter," said Duddy.

"He's got an unbelievable amount of fans and if it happens, it happens.

"But for me I'm just focused on October 10. I'm firmly focused on getting the job done at the Garden again."