Erin Go Brawl

Irish Ropes Announces March 16th Fight Card At Madison Square Garden Featuring John Duddy

By John Mooney

Ireland's John Duddy defends his IBA middleweight title for the first time, as well as his WBC Continental Americas belt, on Friday, March 16 against Anthony "The Bullet" Bonsante (29-8-3, 17 KOs), who gained widespread fame as a contestant on the Mark Burnett-Sylvester Stallone reality show, The Contender.

The Duddy-Bonsante bout will be the featured match of the "Erin Go Brawl" pay-per-view event, live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden, promoted by Irish Ropes. Also scheduled to appear will be super featherweight Maureen "The Real Million Dollar Baby" Shea, who trained Hilary Swank for her Oscar-winning role as a female boxer.

At a packed press conference held at the famous Jack Dempsey's on 33rd St., the fighters said they were looking forward to the showdown on the night before St. Patrick's Day.

"We both have tremendous heart and hunger. God willing, you'll see me put it all on the line like I did in my last fight," said Duddy, who sustained serious cuts above his eyes during in his last bout against Yory Boy Campas on September 29, when The Derry Destroyer won the IBA Middleweight title at Madison Square Garden.

"There will be a lot of Irish at the fight or watching on pay per view. It (fan support) has been tremendous since I arrived," added the 27-year-old Duddy, who now heads to Vero Beach, Florida for a six-week intensive training camp. "I'm hungry and eager to put on a tremendous show. It's going to be a night to remember for the Irish, boxing fans and Irish Ropes."

Duddy will defend his WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Championship exactly one year to the day that he won it at Madison Square Garden in front of a predominantly Irish crowd. Since coming to America and turning pro, the 5-11, 160 lb. fighter has improved his record to 18-0 with 15 knockouts. Recently, he was honored with the coveted Rocky Marciano Award as "Fighter of the Year" from the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing (AAIB).

Harry Keitt, Duddy's trainer, attended Bonsante's January 20 unanimous decision against Matt Vanda in Minnesota and knows that the Bullet is going to be a tough opponent wanting to impress the anticipated New York crowd. The Contender star is not just a TV wannabe; he holds the IBA Americas championship, which he won in the Vanda fight.

"I'm happy to be in New York. I've dreamed of fighting in Madison Square Garden," said Bonsante, a 36-year-old single dad, who immediately flew home to Minnesota after the press conference for his job as a night supervisor at a KMart warehouse. "I know there will be a huge Irish crowd, but I'm coming to enjoy this opportunity."

Maureen Shea first gained fame as the trainer for Hilary Swank, as the actress prepared for her Oscar-winning performance as the fictitious boxer Maggie "Mo Chúisle " Fitzgerald in Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby, which won Best Picture in 2004. The 26-year-old Iona College student is unbeaten in nine pro bouts with four KOs. She made her professional debut on March 26, 2005 - a knockout just 39 seconds into the first round against Camille Casson in White Plains, NY. In her most recent outing last Thursday evening, Shea won a sixth round unanimous decision versus Elizabeth Villarreal at the Paradise Theater in the Bronx.

"It's my dad's 66th birthday and, God willing, I'll give him another win (as a present)." The "Erin Go Brawl" fight card also will feature Limerick's Andy Lee (6-0, 3 KOs), a 2004 Olympic middleweight, and the Boston-based Clancy brothers - heavyweight James (9-0, 11 KO) and cruiserweight Mark (6-0, 1 KO) - originally from Co. Clare. (As an amateur, James Clancy beat Kevin "The Clones Colossus" McBride, the man who beat Iron Mike Tyson and sent the troubled champion into retirement.) Irish National Senior amateur champion, welterweight Henry Coyle of Co. Mayo, will make his pro debut.

"We have people coming from across the United States, Ireland, Canada, and even all the way from Australia," said Irish Ropes president Eddie McLoughlin, who is promoting the fight.