Irish middleweight contender John Duddy survived a torrid final round at the hands of American Matt Vanda to take his unbeaten record to 26-0 (17 KOs) with a unanimous points decision at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Duddy, still making his way back into contention for a world title shot after a terrible performance a year ago in the same ring when he inched past Walid Smichet, had been cruising through the rounds with a measured display that highlighted his jab and impressive head movement that had been so lacking in previous fights.
But it nearly all came apart for Duddy, though, in the tenth and final round as Vanda finally broke down the Derry man’s defence, peppering his head with combinations.
Duddy never looked in desperate trouble though and the onslaught was not enough to sway the fight Vanda's way as the judges delivered the ninth defeat of his career.
Vanda slipped to 39-8 (22 KOs) after two of the judges scored it 99-91, a third scoring it 97-93.
The main event of the evening saw Miguel Cotto regain a welterweight world title belt.
Former British champion Michael Jennings, in his first fight outside the UK, was no match for the Puerto Rican in his first contest since losing an 11th-round thriller to the now disgraced Antonio Margarito last summer.
Referee Benji Estevez called the fight off with 24 seconds left of the fifth round as Jennings rose from the canvas for the third time as Cotto, now 33-1 (27 KOs), took possession of the vacant WBO title, leaving his beaten opponent 34-2 (16 KOs).
