Duddy-Phillips in doubt
06 September 2008 – by Mark Doyle
John Duddy’s proposed bout with IBF light-middleweight champion Verno Phillips is in danger of collapse due to the lack of interest from the major American TV networks.
It had initially been expected that the fight would go ahead in late September or early October but the failure to secure a suitable TV date stalled matters.
That scheduling issue has not yet been resolved, according to Duddy’s manager and promoter, Eddie McLoughlin, but he is adamant that whatever the outcome, the Derry fighter will have a major fight at the Kings Hall in Belfast on November 29.
“Phillips is not getting a response from the TV networks,” McLoughlin is quoted as saying by The Irish Sun. “That is partly because they have their schedules worked out in advance.
“We have the Kings Hall in Belfast booked for November 29. Hopefully, that will be the date when John meets Phillips, and maybe some of the TV networks over there would be interested.
“But if a fight with Phillips doesn’t happen, when we will line up a world-class opponent for John, probably at light-middle.
“It will be a statement fight for him,” he declared.
