Duddy world title hopes on hold

John Duddy has won all of his 25 professional bouts

Derry boxer John Duddy says he remains upbeat even though his hopes of landing a world title fight this autumn appear to have been dashed.

Duddy was close to being matched with IBF light-middleweight champion Verno Phillips in late October but negotiations broke down.

"At the moment, everything is in limbo," Duddy told BBC Newsline.

"There's a lot of negotiating going on but with the credit crunch, a lot of fights in America are falling through."

A bout with unbeaten Ronald Hearns, the son of the legendary Tommy 'Hitman' Hearns, is being pencilled in for January in the US but Duddy says he is determined to have a contest before Christmas.

"HBO seem to be very interested in showing the Hearns fight but that won't happen until January.

"Between now and then, I've got to pay the bills so I've got to be fighting somebody," said Duddy, who recently moved into a new house in his native Derry.

"Hearns is an undefeated fighter and with his name, he is going to bring a lot of attention to that fight.

"I think I've got the tools to take care of business with him but I would rather the fight be happening this week than next year."

Duddy has been delighted by the input of his new Miami-based coaches, brothers Patrick and Joseph Burns, since he split with previous trainer Don Turner in the Spring.

The Derryman had shipped a lot of punishment in his win over Walid Smichet in February and he felt that a change of direction was necessary.

"Since then, I fought in Boston (points win over Charles Howe) and with my new coaches, I displayed a different side of me and put on a bit of boxing the way I used to do when I was an amateur."