Duddy clinches points victory
Irish middleweight John Duddy extended his winning run to 20 fights by beating Dupre Strickland on a unanimous points decision in New York on Friday night.

The Derryman recovered from sustaining a cut over his right eye in the second round to defeat the 37-year-old over 10 rounds at the Beacon Theater.

The judges scored the contest 100-90 and 100-89 in Duddy's favour.

"I used combinations to keep him on the run and there was no doubt in my mind I won the fight," said Duddy afterwards.

"I hit him well in the first round but it's hard to fight a guy who doesn't want to fight," he added.

The 27-year-old was cut early in the fight with a left hook by Strickland.

This was Duddy's last contest in the United States before he comes home to Ireland where he has already signed up for two bouts, the first scheduled for the National Stadium in Dublin on 14 July.

An opponent for the Dublin bout has yet to be named although Jim Rock is being mentioned in some quarters.

Highlights of John Duddy's latest win will be on BBC One Northern Ireland on Sunday evening (20 May) at 2220 BST

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/boxing/6672371.stm

Published: 2007/05/19 10:14:14 GMT

© BBC MMVIII