Did anyone see Season Ticket on BBC last night? They did a half hour profile on John Duddy. They showed Jake La Motta coming into Gleason's to meet him because 'Raging Bull' is a big fan of Duddy's. Duddy was really excited and very humble, but La Motta couldn't understand a word of what he was saying in the strong Derry accent. Great programme. They discussed his uncle Jackie's death on Bloody Sunday too.
After a quiet period, Ireland has three top class boxers now. Duddy is the furthest along the line with an inconsequential alphabet belt already secured and a huge following in New York. Andy Lee (who fights on Duddy's undercard in Madison Square Garden on Paddy's Eve) is only starting out, but has everything in his locker that's required to go on to be a world champion. And the third, of course, is the legend Bernard Dunne. Two weeks to showtime!