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Freddie Roach-trained KO artist to fight in Dublin


The newest addition to the bumper Ireland’s Last Man Standing card may bring with him legendary trainer Freddie Roach.

Panamanian light heavyweight Israel Duffus [17(14)-4(3)] was this morning announced for the bill at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday March 3rd.

The Central American knockout artist is trained at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles by Roach, and is managed by Assassin – who co-promote next month’s event alongside Dublin outfit Red Corner.

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While it is not yet confirmed whether Roach himself will be in the corner at the home of Irish boxing, Assassin and Red Corner said that he “is likely to be in attendance on the evening.”

The undercard of the TG4-broadcast show will be Duffus’s third with Assassin. Most recently he featured in Mexico alongside JJ McDonagh and Vladimir Belujsky.

The 25-year-old may be a familiar face to some having portrayed former light middleweight champ Davey Moore in Roberto Duran biopic ‘Hands of Stone’.

Duffus is keen to face an Irish boxer on the card – however with Irish champion Paddy McDonagh being a stablemate while Chris Mullally is a raw novice, this seems highly unlikely.

He said that “I am so excited to get to visit Dublin, let alone fight there. I’ve heard so much about the stadium and the fans. This is going to be fantastic. I don’t know who I’m fighting yet, if there’s any local boxers, I would love to fight them to add to the atmosphere.”

Duffus is the second foreign addition to the undercard, following the announcement of Assassin light middleweight Max Wicks [6(1)-1(0)-1].

The pair join debutant Cillian Reardon, Victor Rabei, Vladimir Belujsky, JJ and Paddy McDonagh, Dylan McDonagh, Dylan Moran, and Allan Phelan on the undercard, along with a vacant Irish light middleweight title fight between Craig O’Brien and Jay Byrne.

The eight-man tournament, with a prize pool of €59,000, features Chris Blaney, Bernard Roe, Sean McGlinchey, Roy Sheahan, Jordan Latimer, Alfredo Meli, Sean McGlinchey, and Nick Quigley.

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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