JOHN DUDDY insisted that a world title fight next year was out of his hands, but it’s looming after his thrilling victory over the former European, British and Commonwealth middleweight champion, Howard Eastman, before a frenzied full house at The Kings Hall in Belfast on Saturday night.

John Duddy will bid to take a further step towards a world title fight in 2008 when he meets American Matt Vanda on February 2.

Derry native John Duddy secured his 23rd straight victory with a win over Howard Eastman at King’s Hall in Belfast last night.

AFTER the fiasco of the aborted McCullough-Martinez fight a week earlier there were no problems at the scales in Belfast yesterday when John Duddy and Howard Eastman weighed in for tonight’s sell-out middleweight contest at The King’s Hall (RTÉ2, 9pm).

Unbeaten sensation Andy Lee will face the biggest test of his professional career to date when he battles with Jason McKay for the vacant Irish Super Middleweight title as part of the Ladrokes.com Fight Night at the National Stadium on Saturday, December 15.

RENOWNED trainer Don Turner is convinced John Duddy will join the likes of Evander Holyfield and Larry Holmes and become his 21st world champion.

FORMER European, Commonwealth and British middleweight champion Howard Eastman bids to turn John Duddy’s King’s Hall dream into a nightmare when they clash at the legendary Belfast venue on December 8.

Former world title challenger Howard Eastman believes he can bounce back into championship contention with a victory over rising Derry star John Duddy when they meet at the King’s Hall on December 8.

Howard Eastman won the British middleweight title by knocking out Richard Williams in the final round of their bout in Bethnal Green.

Howard Eastman has vowed to learn from his early mistakes and finally land a version of the world middleweight title.

Middleweight Howard Eastman is set to return to action against Berlin-based Arthur Abraham next month.

HOWARD EASTMAN pushed Bernard Hopkins all the way but failed to land the undisputed world middleweight title at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has confirmed he intends to return to the ring this summer.

Promoter Mick Hennessy is in no doubt Howard Eastman has all the hallmarks of a world champion.

Brian Magee is expecting one of the hardest nights of his career on Saturday night when he defends his IBO super-middleweight title against Hacine Cherifi at Belfast’s King’s Hall.

Howard Eastman will keep busy with a triple title defence at Britain's Nottingham Arena next month.

Howard Eastman watched Lennox Lewis exact revenge from Hasim Rahman on Saturday night two hours after the Battersea man claimed to have been robbed out of the WBA middleweight title.

Twice former WBO heavyweight champion Herbie Hide is being lined up to make his comeback at Hull City Hall on February 5.