Duddy And Turner Form Powerful 1-2 Punch

IBA middleweight champion "Ireland's" John Duddy closes training camp this week in the Pocono Mountains, where he's been preparing for his first pro fight in Ireland, headlining "The Homecoming" July 14 in Dublin.

Derry City-native Duddy (20-0, 15 KO's), now fighting out of Queens, takes on former IBF Mediterraneo light middleweight title-holder Alessio Furlan (19-8-5, 8 KOs), of Italy, in the 10-round main event.

Duddy is working with new head trainer Don Turner for the first time and both already feel a boxing symmetry.

"Turner has me doing stuff I did as an amateur like throwing combinations, working on my hand speed, and pressuring correctly," Duddy explained. "I'm going to put on more pressure than I did my past few fights, more up-tempo, coming at my opponent from all angles. Once I get him on the ropes, I don't want to let him off the hook. We've been working on a lot of small things from a different perspective. I think Don Turner is going to bring the best out of me."

Turner has trained 19 world champions including Evander Holyfield, Larry Holmes, Aaron Pryor and Mike McCallum.

"John Duddy has what it takes to go all the way to the top," Turner said. "I look at how much guts a fighter has to win -- that they're not afraid -- because boxing is 90-percent mental. Duddy has that.

"When he has an opponent hurt, that's when he has to throw five more punches, not let him off the hook."

Duddy is now rated No. 6 in the WBO, as well as No. 9, 10 and 11 by the WBA, IBF and WBC, respectively. The unbeaten middleweight sensation spent two weeks in Ireland and Northern Ireland, prior to opening camp in the Poconos, promoting the July 14th show.

"It was great being home," John remarked. "I had something to do every day, meeting people in their houses, attending functions and working out at my old gym. The atmosphere there is good and Derry's a good place to be because things are so positive. I couldn't believe the reception I received. My phone kept ringing. It's a small town and everybody knows everybody. I even went to the Mayor's Ball and the mayors of Dublin and Belfast were there. After a while I couldn't go anywhere in Northern Ireland because so many people were around who wanted to see me, but that won't be a distraction for the fight because we'll be setting up camp in Dublin, not back home."

For more information about John Duddy, Irish Ropes Promotions or "The Homecoming" on July 14 in Dublin go on line to irishropes.com or integratedsportsnet.com