Duddy poised for world title bout

Unbeaten John Duddy is to fight for a world title in October

Derry boxer John Duddy is to have a crack at a world title by taking on 38-year-old IBF light-middleweight champion Verno Phillips.

Duddy has campaigned at middleweight throughout his professional career, most recently defeating American Charlie Howe in Boston on 28 June.

That was his first fight with trainer Pat Burns, who said he felt Duddy had a bigger future at 154lb than 160.

It is expected the fight will be in the USA or Ireland on 31 October.

Phillips, a three-time light-middleweight world champion, will be making his first defence since regaining the IBF belt with a split-decision defeat of Cory Spinks in March.

Eddie McLoughlin, of New York-based Irish Ropes Promotions, the Queens-based Irishman's management company, said: "We do not know what the venue will be because we have to see what the TV companies are going to do."