All in all, it hasn’t been a bad weekend for boxing Stateside.

WHAT better metaphor to judge this year in and out of the ring than the sport itself. Like a journeyman pro, the sport has in 2006 been all things to all men.

MIDDLEWEIGHT contender John Duddy is being lined up for an Irish title fight on home soil next summer.

IRISH Ropes are lining up two more stern tests for John Duddy after the Derryman came through the successful defence of his WBC Continental Americas title in New York at the weekend.

Unbeaten Derry middleweight John Duddy's next opponent has been confirmed as North Dakota fighter Shelby Pudwill.