PRESS RELEASE: Ireland's sensational John Duddy (12-0, 11 KO's) will put his unblemished record on the line and returns to the Big Apple spotlight when the blossoming middleweight contender headlines "The Homecoming" this Friday night, November 4, at the Hammerstein Ballroom on West 34th Street and Eighth Avenue. Promoter Cedric Kushner hosted a fight week press conference at O'Casey's Restaurant yesterday with all the principals.
The popular middleweight from Derry, Ireland will battle Bryon Mackie (25-11, 8 KO's) in the main event, looking to reel off his 13th consecutive win in the professional ranks.
John Francis Duddy is one of boxing's hard hitters. The native of Derry, Ireland, has registered eight first round knockouts during a young career, in an "if you blinked you missed it" style that has captured the fancy of his countrymen here in New York, where he has fought all but a handful of his pro contests.
In an added, 12-round championship attraction for the vacant IBO junior featherweight title, Armando Guerrero (20-4-6, 11 KO's) faces Taklani Ndlovu (23-3, 15 KO's).
Welterweight up-and-comer Richard Gutierrez (16-0, 10 KO's), a protégé of the legendary Roberto Duran, squares off against the tough-minded Edson Aguirre (11-3-1, 2 KO's) in an eight-round contest on The Homecoming show. Another Irish-born standout, light middleweight James Moore (3-0, 2 KO's) faces Manjie Conte (5-5, 3 KO's) also see action in a six-round tilt on the card. Bronx, New York product Jorge Teron (7-0, 5 KO's), the three time New York Golden Gloves champ, will battle Oscar dela Cruz (3-2, 2 KO's) in a six-round bout.
"John Duddy is one of the most popular fighters to hit the American shores from another continent in many a year," said Kushner. "He brings a thrill a minute to his many followers. This is sure to be a very exciting night of boxing at the Hammerstein."
The bouts will be unionized boxing matches under the auspices of Joint Association for Boxers. J.A.B., headed by former light heavyweight champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, was formed for the physical and financial protection of boxers and is affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. James Hoffa, the Teamsters president, is expected to be on hand for the card.
Tickets for "The Homecoming" are priced at $40, $60, $75, $110, $160, and $200 and are available by calling TicketMaster or Cedric Kushner at 212-755-1944.
