anyone seen the cliche ridden mess that is "Strength and Honour"? http://www.lovefilm.com/film/Strength-And-Honour/139458/ Thats an hour and a half that I will never get back. Now wat ya tink a dat, boss!?
This content is protected The Path of John Duddy June 21, 2010 Story: This content is protected Photos: This content is protected [FONT=Georgia,]Life, it is said, is a series of goals and destinations. Work and rewards Dreams and hopes. One inevitably leads to another. Go to a good school and you'll get a good job. Get a good job and you'll make some money. With the money come the cars. Somewhere a long the line you'll meet your spouse and get married. You'll have kids and buy a home. That's the way it's supposed to work, or, at least, the way we're told it's supposed to work. But rarely in life do things go as planned. Some problems develop, opportunities slip away and the pre-determined path that once looked so clear and promising is now a hazy, rocky road. Sometimes work just leads to more work and the rewards are pushed further and further down the road. The dreams soon fade. Such is life. In boxing, perhaps, no other fighter has recently been made more aware of this reality then middleweight John Duddy. Duddy is now 30 years old. He has a record of 29 wins and one loss with 18 of his wins coming by way of knockout. And he is only three fights removed from his first professional loss. Duddy was once 25 years old, though. He had nine professional fights, nine professional wins and nine professional wins by knockout. He was tabbed a future champion. He was unbeaten with no noticeable scars or bruises. And the future was bright. But during his path to a middleweight title shot, Duddy ran into some problems. The fights got harder, his skin seemingly got softer (and, thus, more liable to cutting and bruising) and the opportunities, alas, began slipping away. This content is protected It started with a much tougher than expected but nonetheless thrilling decision win over the shopworn Ramon "Yory Boy" Campas in 2006. After a pair of fights in his adopted hometown of New York City, Duddy then went on the road for three fights in his native Ireland. He appeared to regain his footing with a solid decision win over former title challenger Howard Eastman in the final of those three fights. A title shot soon loomed. Then-middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik was ready to give Duddy a turn at his belts and the glory and riches that would come with it. All Duddy had to do was secure a tune-up win over journeyman Walid Smichet, back at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It all seemed so simple. But it wasn't to be. Duddy looked poor in the fight; lethargic and easy to hit. He was cut and bloodied and banged around and although he wound up winning a majority decision, the damage to his career was significant. A fight between Pavlik (then a pound for pound staple) and Duddy would be a hard sell. Management problems soon arose. There was a dispute with a promoter. And before you knew it, there Duddy was losing his unbeaten record. In April of 2009, for the first time in his career to that point, John Duddy was a beaten fighter; the loser of a split decision to a veteran named Billy Lyell. So much for all those plans. But there's a reason why boxing is such a strong metaphor for life. Duddy understands this. And that's why just like a regular guy would dust himself off and keep on going after being passed up for that promotion at work, Duddy will do the same. The new start and, potentially, a fresh slew of opportunities, begin this weekend when Duddy boxes Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at the Alamo dome in San Antonio, Texas. The fight will headline Top Rank Promotions "Latin Fury 15" and will be broadcast live on Pay-Per-View. The powers that be clearly think Duddy won't be difficult for Chavez to overcome. Chavez has made a lot of money and brought in a lot of fans fighting lower-level opponents. If they thought Duddy was a threat, the fight would arguably not be happening. But Duddy says he is unfazed. "I don't really care what they think," he said. "I'm just eager for the fight to happen. I feel great. I've been training hard. And everything's been going great." Duddy know he is the "B-side" of the equation going up against Chavez, the fighter who shares the name (and support and promotional backing and the fan appeal) of his legendary father, the now retired, former champion. Chavez is the story here, not Duddy. Duddy is aware of this. But he doesn't detract from his opponent either. This content is protected "He's a good fighter," Duddy said of his opponent. "You have to have something to be where he is with his record (41-0-1, 30 KO's). But once you get under the ropes it's just us and I'm relishing the opportunity. I think it's going to be exciting. The two of us aren't pretty dancers." "Duddy has to worry," Chavez said. "He (Duddy) has a fighter that will do what it takes. I will not accept a loss or to not move forward in my career. I want to climb very high, and if I have to climb over John Duddy, well, I will climb over him." A chance at the championship could be next for Chavez should he beat Duddy, so he plans to climb alright. Duddy said he plans to do the same. "I can only benefit," he said. "I can have a crack at the 160-pound title (with a win). I just want to get in there and fulfill my dream. It should be a great night of fights." After a career of setbacks and false starts, Duddy says this fight is crucial to his career. He has the goal, now it's just a matter of reaching the destination. An upset win for John Duddy on Saturday night would not mean good triumphed evil or evil triumphed good. That's too allegorical for a simple prize fight. After all, this is just boxing. It's just a sport. It would, however, be a win for the common guy, the "9 to 5" worker; the guy who goes to work day in and day out without complaining. And it would show that sometimes, despite the long odds, things do go as planned. Hard work can and does still lead to rewards. And that dreams and hopes remain alive. [/FONT]
Yanjing Beer Fight Night: American duo promising new Cuban crisis in Cork Monday, 21 June 2010 This content is protected American's Jason Barnett and Demetrius Davis cross the Atlantic this week intent on ending the unbeaten runs of Cork based Cuban's Mike Perez and Luis Garcia. The duo along with compatriot Alexei Acosta feature on the Yanjing Beer Fight Night at the Neptune Stadium in Cork on Saturday as they feature on The Undefeated's. The Cuban trio along with Irish stars, Andy Murray, Willie Big Bang Casey and Gary Spike O'Sullivan will all be out to keep their unbeaten records intact but the experienced American duo of Barnett and Davis will be out to spoil the party. Florida native Barnett takes on Mike Perez in a heavyweight battle while Washington veteran Davis will clash with Garcia in a super middleweight bout with both fights scheduled for 8 rounds. Both men will arrive in Cork on the back of big wins and are clearly in confident mood ahead of the weekend. Just last month Davis ended the unbeaten run of German prospect Arthur Hein and he is promising to do the same against Garcia. "I'm in great shape for this fight and really looking forward to coming back to Europe and getting another big win, said Davis. Since coming back from Germany I haven't been out of the gym and I've been in training camp sparring the WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Bebit Shumenov for this fight. "They say Garcia is the next big thing but I heard the same stuff about Arthur Hein in Germany and I gave that boy a beating. I've ended fighters unbeaten records before and that's what I plan on doing again in Ireland. I always look to put on a show and that's exactly what I plan on giving the Irish fans. I ain't travelling back and forth to Europe to clock up the air miles, I'm coming to win and to put myself in line for a title shot." Barnett will arrive filled with just as much confidence as his compatriot coming of the back of two big KO wins over the previously undefeated Erik Leander and John Poore. I think people look at my record of 12 wins and 10 losses and underestimate me, said Barnett. Certainly that's what happened to my last two opponents and they got a rude awakening. If you look closely at my record you'll see that I've never had it easy so naturally things aren't always going to go your way, said Barnett who's previous opponents include current European Heavyweight Champ and Olympic Gold medallist, Audley Harrison. For me boxing is mainly a mental game and my confidence is sky high right now after my last few fights and I feel I'm right where I need to be. In heavyweight boxing anything can happen and if you have the power like I do then it just takes one punch to turn a career right around. Barnett says he has been following Perez's progress as a pro including his record breaking, two fights in one night in Limerick last month but he refuses to be intimidated by the Cork based southpaw's reputation as a possible future World Heavyweight champ. Obviously in general the Cuban's are great fighters and Perez is no exception. He's a former World Amateur Champion and you have to respect that but I've been in with big names before and guys with big amateur pedigrees so that doesn't bother me. My last two wins have pushed me up the ratings and made some people sit up and take notice. Like I said boxing is a mental game and my mindset is a whole lot different right now . I was a decent enough amateur myself winning a Bronze at the Junior Olympics and I know that if I use the talent I have to it's maximum them it doesn't mater what credentials any of these guys have because I have the power to knock them out and that's exactly what I plan on doing this Saturday. Tickets for the Yanjing Beer Fight Night priced 25 & 50 are available from Ticketmaster, all Mahers Sports Outlets, Neptune Stadum 021 4395873, The Wilton Pub 021 4344454, Patrick Thomas 087 9393586, Gary O'Sullivan 085 1789544 and Willie Casey 086 3136925.
lads - anyone here in clubs in dublin? Just want to know if your staying open for the summer and if so do you take it easy in training during June/July! I am also looking for tips on how to get from 88kg down to 68 Kg over a 4 month period (by November) but before anyone laughs I allreay lost 10K since January and I'm only a wee fella anyway. Problem I have is I can only train twice a week max and with the Job I can only run twice a week when I'm not in training. Also any motivation tips would help thanks. Carlos-Jackal could I be a devil and ask for your dietary plan to give me an idea - maybe PM it to me! thanks.
3 stone in 4 months is very achievable horse. If you can't train that much due to work you'll have to do it with your diet mostly. Do you reckon you eat properly at the minute chief??
Thanks BamBam, I lost the inital 10KG with training in the club and copping on a bit with the diet. In my first fight my mates were trying to persuade me to call myself "Doner" as in doner kebab so I'll let you figure out my bad habbits One thing that has really helped is a smoothie maker I got recently and more salads n fruit but the travel is where I lose my discipline because I eat Hotel food and sometimes there is no gym and I don't know the city I am in. But lately with it being summer our club is winding down so If I'm lucky I can make it once a week for June / July so I really need some motivational tips because I'm the type that needs someone pushing me rather then pushing myself. Most of the time I do push myself but the travel bit kills me. I had my first fight at 88 there 3 weeks ago and had cancel one in June but I'm hoping to make another fight in November but I really should be in the ring with lads my own size for a change!