Bruised Duddy still set for title shot this year

AS John Duddy still nurses the stitches above his eyes and applies a cold compress to what must undoubtedly be a severely bruised ego, he should offer thanks to the boxing gods that he still has a world middleweight title fight to aim for this year.

Saturday night at Madison Square Garden was supposed to be the unbeaten Irishman’s inauguration as a challenger to the undisputed champion Kelly Pavlik.

With the Garden booked for June 7 and the deal done, all Duddy had to do was safely negotiate the unheralded talents of a Montreal-based Tunisian called Walid Smichet over 10 rounds.