Duddy upbeat for Boston contest

Duddy (left) split with respected trainer Don Turner in the Spring

Derry boxer John Duddy appears in upbeat mood ahead of his return to the ring in the US on 28 June.

Undefeated Duddy will face American Charles Howe at The Castle in Boston.

"I'm looking forward to fighting in Boston. The atmosphere is very friendly with so many of my family, friends and fans living there," he said.

Duddy struggled to beat Tunisian Walid Smichet in his last bout and the Derryman is now being trained by Pat Burns after he split with Don Turner.

The Irishman has won all 24 of his professional bouts and he is currently rated in the top 10 by all the major world boxing governing bodies.

Howe has won 17 of his 23 career bouts although he lost his previous fight against WBC USNBC champion Joey Gilbert in September.

"Training camp has been normal but we implemented weight training - three times a day, five times a week - and I rarely have a day off," Duddy said of his link-up with Miami-based Burns.

"I'm feeling great. You know, my last few fights, some people have said I looked smaller. Even my mother and father said that.

606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on Boxing

"I didn't really feel it but we've been working on me being stronger. I've enjoyed it. It's been great working with Pat. I've enjoyed our time together and I like his ideas."

The Derryman will be hoping to re-establish his claims for a world title shot by accounting for Howe.

Burns previously trained Jermaine Taylor to the undisputed world middleweight title.

The Miami man worked with Taylor for his first 25 professional bouts, including his 2005 win over Bernard Hopkins, but the then world middleweight champion opted to switch to Emanuel Steward in early 2006.

Middleweight Duddy had been earmarked for a world title shot against Kelly Pavlik this month but his indifferent display against Smichet put paid to that mooted contest.

One judge scored the February bout a draw while the other two gave the Northern Ireland man a 98-92 verdict.

Duddy picked up cuts to both eyes in the contest at Madison Square Garden which convinced Pavlik's promoter Bob Arum to look for another opponent for the summer title defence.