World middleweight title contender John Duddy is looking forward to fighting again in his adopted New York City home for the first time since last May.
Duddy battles tough Tunisian brawler Walid ‘Tempete de Sable’ Smichet (17-3-1, 13 KOs) in the ten-round, co-feature event at the 23 February heavyweight championship unification show headlined by IBF king Wladimir Klitschko and WBO title-holder Sultan Ibragimov at Madison Square Garden.
Presently rated number three by the WBO and WBC, as well as number six and number 11 by the WBA and IBF, Duddy (23-0, 17 KOs) also is ranked number ten by The Ring magazine.
Duddy, who has fought 11 times in the Big Apple, including five at Madison Square Garden, is training in North Carolina with trainer Don Turner.
The unbeaten, charismatic Derry man is coming off of three consecutive fights in Ireland, including his most notable victory to date in December, winning a ten-round decision against two-time world title challenger Howard Eastman.
