Nearly two weeks into training camp in Vero Beach, Florida, Ireland's John Duddy reports that everything is going great in preparation for his 16 March title defence against Anthony Bonsante.
It will be a 12-round main event at the ‘Erin Go Brawl’ event at The Theater, Madison Square Garden.
Duddy (18-0, 15 KOs), rated number seven by the WBO and number nine by the WBA, defends his IBA World and WBC Continental Americas title belts against Bonsante (29-8-2, 17 KOs), the reigning IBA Americas and Minnesota State middleweight title-holder.
Training for only the second time outside of his adopted hometown of Queens (New York), Duddy believes his first trip to Florida for camp is exactly what he needed to get ready for Bonsante.
‘It's been great,’ Duddy said. ‘We have everything we need, top sparring at the gym, I run on the beach or on quiet streets between the house we're staying at to Dodgertown. I can't wait to watch a game there.
‘I didn't have many distractions back home until after my last fight. I understand (the increased demand on his time outside of the ring) and that's why we needed to get away to camp. And it's a lot warmer here.
‘We've watched a few of Bonstante's fights on tape since we've been here. We're putting together our game plan. He's a gutsy guy who fights a little like myself. We're going to stand and fight.
‘I'm working on the whole package; head movement, using my jab, putting punches together like I did in the middle rounds against 'Yory Boy' (Campas), only right from the beginning of the fight instead of waiting. It's been a great experience so far.’
Also fighting is 2004 Irish Olympian middleweight Andy Lee (7-0, 4 KOs), world-rated super featherweight Maureen Shea (9-0, 4 KOs), the unbeaten Clancy brothers - heavyweight James (9-0, 1 KO) and cruiserweight Mark (6-0-1, 1 KO) - from Clare nd now fighting out of Boston, 2004 Irish National Senior amateur champion Henry Coyle in his pro debut and welterweight Martin Wright (2-0-1, 2 KOs).
All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
