Duddy to go for title against Pudwill

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

The 26-year-old Duddy, who boasts an unblemished 15-0 (13 Kos) record, will go toe-to-toe with Pudwill, 30, for the vacant WBC Continental Americas middleweight title at New York's Madison Square Garden on March 16.

Pudwill is the most experienced fighter Duddy has faced in the pro ranks. The brother of former world title challenge Tocker Pudwill has claims 21 wins, two losses and a draw in his 10-year career.

Duddy said: "I'm looking forward to the challenge. We're going to kick off St Patrick's Day weekend and kick it off the right way, with a win."

Speaking at the fight press conference, Duddy's trainer Harry Keitt said: "John's making the right moves, doing the right things. We're taking it one fight at a time. We're not jumping over mountains here. He'll get there when he's supposed to (get there), no sooner, no later."

Rating Duddy highly, Pudwill, who has won his last eight fights, said: "I know he's a great fighter.

"He's undefeated. You can't knock a guy who hasn't lost.

"I'm looking forward to putting on a great show. This is a great opportunity for me to fight at Madison Square Garden."

Elsewhere on the Shamrock Express bill, Arklow light middleweight James Moore will look to post the fourth straight win of his fledgling career when he takes on Jose Felix of Georgia.

Irish middleweight champion Matthew Macklin, a probable future opponent of Duddy's, and Irish American junior middleweight Maureen Shea, best known as Academy Award winner Hilary Swank's main sparring partner for the Clint Eastwood-directed film Million Dollar Baby, will also feature.