Boxing promoter Bob Arum has handed John Duddy a lifeline to a world title shot after putting the Irish contender on the Miguel Cotto-Michael Jennings undercard later this month.
Arum's Top Rank is promoting a pay-per-view double bill from two cities featuring undisputed middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik's defence against Marco Antonio Rubio in Youngstown, Ohio, and the Cotto-Jennings bout for the WBO welterweight title in New York's Madison Square Garden.
Duddy (25-0, 17 KOs) will face American Matt Vanda (39-8, 22 KOs) at 160 pounds and a victory would, Arum said, put the New York-based Irishman back in the frame for a title fight at either middle or light-middleweight.
‘One thing about John,’ Arum said. ‘If he is successful against Matt Vanda he would stare at a vista of possibilities.
‘There is a possible fight with Yuri Foreman which would sell out Madison Square Garden. Foreman is a top local fighter, also undefeated, and a matchup with John would be tremendous.
‘Julio Cesar Chavez Jr fights again on 28 March in Tijuana. If Julio is successful there and John is successful here, who knows, they might be fighting as early as this summer and that is a major, major fight.
‘And of course on this card, we go to Youngstown where Kelly defends his title and if he wins, wouldn't it be spectacular to have Kelly's next title defence against John here in Madison Square Garden?
‘So there are a lot of possibilities, but all these possibilities are for nought if Matt Vanda, who is a tremendous, tremendous fighter can upset the apple cart.’
Despite being undefeated, New York-based Duddy is on something of a comeback trail having lost a world title tilt at Pavlik last summer after suffering a bad cut above his eye in a laboured and narrow victory over the Walid Smichet in February 2008.
Duddy, 29, has fought just once following that, a unanimous points win over Charles Howe in Boston on 26 June, and has since become embroiled in an acrimonious split with his manager and promotional company.
‘It's great to be back,’ Duddy said. ‘I have been out of the ring for a while now and I am looking forward to getting my career back off to a good start. I think there is a very exciting fight in prospect between me and Matt.
‘Its going to be really close, I've seen Matt fight a few times and I am sure he has seen me, and as you know the two of us we are full of courage, we are full of guts and I think its going to be an exciting fight on the night to get the show on the road.
‘I'm looking forward to getting my career back on track and hopefully that will be with a win.’
