John Duddy makes his first WBC Continental Americas middleweight title defence June 10 against veteran Freddy Cuevas in a 10-round bout on the Cotto-Malignaggi card at Madison Square Garden.
Duddy is now rated thirteenth by the World Boxing Association. He is coming off a devastating first-round TKO of Shelby Pudwell on March 16 before a sold-out crowd of passionate Irish fans in The Theater at MSG. He is returning to the "big house" where he won an eight-round decision a year ago against Patrick Thompson.
"I keep working hard and this is what I want to do and where I want to be," Duddy said. "I'm very comfortable fighting at home in Madison Square Garden."
"I'm honored to be fighting on the Cotto-Malignaggi card. Paulie's a good friend. The two of us is are from New York City (Malignaggi in Brooklyn, Derry; Ireland- native Duddy lives in Queens) and train together. His fans are mine; my friends are his. They'll join together and support us June 10."
Cuevas has victories against former world champion Charles Murray, Wilfredo Rivera for the USBO light middleweight title in 2002, and previously unbeaten (9-0) Sam Hill. He took current undisputed world middleweight champion Jermain Taylor 12 rounds and has been in against former world champ Kassim Ouma and top challenger Kingsley Ikeke.
