Duddy Wins Split-Decision Over Smichet
The following is from the Sports Ticker:
Duddy wins split-decision over Smichet
NEW YORK (TICKER) â€"Irish middleweight John Duddy survived a scare in his return to the Madison Square Garden ring on Saturday night, as he recorded a split-decision victory over Walid Smichet.
What was supposed to be a warmup fight for Duddy prior to an expected world title shot against undisputed champion Kelly Pavlik turned into a struggle as the Montreal-based Smichet exposed his opponent’s defensive flaws and opened up a deep cut above his left eye.
Frank Lombardi scored the 10-round fight a 95-95 draw, but fellow judges John McKaie and Don Trella each scored it 98-92 to improve Duddy’s professional record to 24-0. Smichet fell to 17-4-3.
The decision delighted Duddy’s large contingent of fans in the arena but drew many boos from non-partisans.
Duddy, 28, is expected to be Pavlik’s opponent for his first defense of his undisputed middleweight championship here on June 7.
Duddy was backing up from the opening bell as Smichet repeatedly caught him with left and right hooks. The Tunisian landed 52 punches - including 47 power shots - in the first three minutes, according to the Compubox statistics.
The onslaught had the Irishman retreating to his corner with a mark under his left eye, and Smichet still was finding Duddy’s face with relative ease at the start of the second round.
Duddy regained his composure and was landing more shots of his own, but his defense still was practically non-existent. By the end of the third, he had been badly cut over his left eye.
Smichet continued to expose Duddy in the fourth with stinging jabs before the Irishman began to find his range. By the fifth round, he was starting to take control, although the sight of blood oozing from above Duddy’s left eye undoubtedly prevented the Tunisian from losing heart.
Duddy’s cut man, George Mitchell, was working wonders as the ringside doctor began to pay closer attention to the wound. But while the Irishman started to win rounds, he never was comfortably in control.
Earlier on the card, middleweight Joe Greene of Queens improved to 18-0 with a technical knockout of Argentine veteran Francisco Mora.
Greene captured the NABO/NABA championship when referee Tony Chiarantonio took the advice of the ringside doctor at the end of the 10th round and decided Mora, who had been floored twice in the second round, was unable to continue.
DISCUSS THIS NEWS IN THE MMANEWS.COM FORUMS >>
Want to advertise your site in this space? E-mail the website staff today!
|
Bookmark Us
Contact Us
