Major Test For Duddy Dec. 8

It was thought that John Duddy’s sojourn to Europe would have a detrimental effect on his career, but his next bout, versus perhaps Europe’s number one challenger, Howard Eastman, does measure up as a legitimate stepping stone in the Derryman’s quest for the middleweight world title.

Eastman will be out to turn Duddy’s King’s Hall dream into a nightmare when the pair clash at the legendary Belfast venue just four weeks from now.

This latest challenger looks set to provide Duddy with the sternest test yet of his 22 fight unbeaten career - and his resume makes for impressive reading. The London based Guyanan goes by the sobriquet of the “Battersea Bomber” and with 35 knockouts from his 42 wins he certainly lives up to the name.

Eastman’s 13 year professional career has seen him compile an awesome reputation - he is a two-time world title challenger and has enjoyed lengthy reigns as European, Commonwealth and British middleweight champion.

However the bare statistics don’t begin to explain the glorious career of a man who is often touted as one of the best British fighters never to win a world title. Eastman however still believes there is time to rectify that and a win over Duddy would put him right back in the frame for a third world title tilt.

There was certainly no shame in his previous two bids at world level, a controversial majority decision defeat to WBA champ William Joppy in 2001 and a second points defeat to then undisputed middleweight kingpin Bernard Hopkins in 2005.

Eastman though will be entering the lion’s den on December 8 when he tackles Duddy in front of what’s likely to be an electric crowd at the King’s Hall. Duddy simply can’t wait for his debut at the historic Balmoral venue and he is relishing the challenge that Eastman will present.

The Derryman said, “It’s going to be amazing, it doesn’t get much better than fighting a guy with Eastman’s reputation at the King’s Hall. He’s had almost twice as many KO’s as I’ve had fights, so that tells you everything about him. He has an amazing record and there’s no doubt he’s a very dangerous man.

Promoter Brian Peters feels it’s a fight that will bring Belfast fight fans back to the halcyon days of the mid 1980’s when Barry McGuigan packed out the same venue.

Peters said, “I suppose it’s only natural that with John fighting at the King’s Hall now people are going to compare him to the likes of Barry McGuigan and the greats who have fought there before. When McGuigan beat the world class Juan Laporte at the King’s Hall it proved he was ready for the world title and I think this will be the same kind of fight for John. If he can beat a guy like Eastman then I think he’s certainly ready for that big world title fight next year but getting past Eastman will be a big, big test for John.”

Expectations are that the fight will be beamed live (via Setanta) in the United States.