Boxing:John Duddy looks set for a prominent role on Bob Arum's outdoor boxing card at the new Yankee Stadium on June 5th after his 10-round win over with Michael Medina at Cowboys Stadium on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao's points win over Ghanaian Joshua Clottey last night.
The Derryman won on a split decision with ringside judges Mike Mitchell and Charles Phillips scoring the bout 96-93 in his favour and their counterpart Arturo Velasquez reversing the score for the Mexican.
The win brings Duddy’s record to 29-1.
There was little between the pair for the first five rounds but the Irishman had clearly worn his opponent down in that time and assumed control in the sixth before building up a healthy lead by the end of the ninth, with Medina deducted a point for a low blow.
His opponent, having clearly been of the same opinion as judges Mitchell and Phillips, rallied in the last and caught Duddy flush with a big right seconds before the final bell, though the Derryman insisted afterwards he wasn’t hurt by the blow.
The main even saw Pacquiao outclass Clottey.
The reigning P4P king was on top right from the opening round as he prevailed by scores of 120-108 and 119-109 twice, but could not find Clottey's breaking point as the man from Ghana maintained his proud record of never having been stopped.
Pacquiao took the opportunity with the microphone afterwards to call Floyd Mayweather Jnr out once again.
The pair were scheduled to meet in last night’s slot before a dispute over blood-testing.
"I want that fight, but it's up to Mayweather. I'm ready to fight any time,” said the Filipino.
Trainer Freddie Roach was in no doubt about Pacquiao's class.
"I give Manny an A-plus. Clottey was more in survival mode and when a guy is trying to survive, it's hard to knock him out."