Eye injury KOs Duddy title shot

IRISH middleweight John Duddy’s hopes of a world title shot this summer have been dashed after he sustained bad cuts around his eyes against Walid Smichet.

Duddy, 28, survived a scare on his return to the Madison Square Garden ring in New York Saturday night following a three-fight campaign on home soil during the last six months of 2007.

In what was supposed to be a warm-up bout for the unbeaten Derry man ahead of an expected world title challenge against Kelly Pavlik, a lacklustre performance and woeful defence meant he could only edge a split decision over his Tunisian opponent.