There are many times in life when it takes more courage to walk away from what one has always known than it does to stay. Professional boxer John Francis Duddy can attest to this theory. On Tuesday, January 18, 2011, the thirty-one year old Irish boxer shocked fans worldwide when he announced his retirement from professional boxing, a sport that he has known and loved for two decades.
During his professional career, Duddy built a loyal fan base, winning the hearts of fans, especially in New York, where he would draw thousands in attendance at Madison Square Garden, an arena that has seen its share of historical events. Duddy became a prominent Irish boxer that amassed a professional record of 29 wins, 2 losses, and 18 KOs, with 10 of those coming in the first round. He is the former IBA World and WBC Continental Americas middleweight title holder.
Duddy has stepped into the squared circle more than 160 times, from the age of 10 until the age of 31, and is known for entering the ring to entertain fans and win. He's known for a style that would engage in slugfests and throw punches in bunches in hopes of landing a punch that would change the night.
On Tuesday afternoon, John Duddy released the following statement:
After a great deal of soul-searching, I have decided to retire from boxing.
In many ways, continuing to fight would be the easy course of action. I have been offered the opportunity to fight Andy Lee on HBO for a purse in excess of $100,000. A win would put me in position to fight for a world championship. This is not an opportunity that I cast aside lightly.
I started watching my father train in the gym when I was five years old. I began fighting competitively at age ten. For more than twenty years, I loved being a boxer. I still feel that it's an enormous honor to be a boxer. But I don't love it anymore.
I no longer have the enthusiasm and willingness to make the sacrifices that are necessary to honor the craft of prizefighting. I used to love going to the gym. Now it's a chore. I wish I still had the hunger, but I don't. The fire has burned out. And I know myself well enough to know that it won't return.
It would be unfair to my fans, my trainer and manager, and everyone else involved in the promotion of my fights for me to continue boxing when I know that my heart isn't in it. I've always given one hundred percent in the gym and in my fights. I have too much respect for boxing and the people around me to continue fighting when I know that I can't do that anymore.
I haven't accomplished everything that I wanted to achieve in boxing. But I've had a rewarding career. I've enjoyed the satisfaction of winning twenty-nine professional fights and learned lessons from my two losses. I've experienced the thrill of fighting in Madison Square Garden, Cowboys Stadium, and, also, my beloved Ireland with crowds cheering for me. I look forward to finding future challenges that bring as much passion and joy into my life as boxing has over the past twenty years.
Barry McGuigan was one of my childhood heroes. His photograph was one of the first things that visitors saw when entering our home in Derry. He had great influence on me when I was a boy.
Barry McGuigan once said, "Fighters are the first people to know when they should retire and the last to admit it."
I know that it's time for me to retire from boxing, and I'm admitting it.
I'm fortunate to have had the support of many good people throughout my career. To my fans; to the people in the boxing business who have been part of my team over the years; and most of all, to my wife Grainne and the rest of my family; thank you for your love and support.
I give you my word; I will not come back.
On Tuesday evening, I spoke with Craig Hamilton, Duddy's manager. Hamilton was forthcoming, answering all of my questions and diffusing any rumors that Duddy's retirement was due to health issues. Hamilton said, "John's health is fine and his decision to retire was due to a lack of passion for the sport."
Hamilton spoke candidly saying, "Many people have challenging schedules and jobs that take a toll on them, causing burn out. John is no different." He continued by explaining the additional mental and physical drain that accompanies a boxer's grueling schedule of fighting 3-4 times per year and attending eight-week training camps for each fight. Hamilton also elaborated, sharing his admiration and respect for Duddy's decision.
The news of Duddy's retirement came on the heels of an announcement made less than a week ago that John Duddy would face fellow countryman Andy Lee on March 12. The fight was expected to be an epic and classic battle on the weekend before St. Patrick's Day.
For so many aspiring boxers, the childhood dream of stepping onto the canvas under the bright lights while people chant your name lends promise to a better tomorrow. That dream has saved many underprivileged kids from the fear of the unknown. Unfortunately, that dream is often what kills their desire to live it. The pursuit of happiness is part of the American dream; somewhere along the way it gets lost in translation. The sport of boxing can be profitable for a fighter, or it can be more brutal than any beating suffered in the ring. Prizefighting was once known as the sport of kings and one of the oldest forms of competition. While the sport can be exhausting and brutal, there are moments where the sport is more dangerous outside of the square circle.
John Duddy's career has experienced wins and losses inside and outside of the ring. Two losses inside the ring can motivate a man to be better; one loss outside of the ring, due to betrayal by those you trust, can cause a paradigm shift. From 2006-2008, John Duddy dealt with a host of issues, due to his manager and promoter, where he was forced to learn a cruel lesson about the business of boxing.
In November 2008, John Duddy was able to break away from his prior manager, Tony McLoughlin, and his brother, promoter Eddie McLoughlin of Irish Ropes, alleging mismanagement and improper disbursement of funds. A lawsuit commenced, which has now been settled. During that time, Duddy was unable to fight until certain legal issues were finalized.
During Duddy's extended layoff, he found it hard not to fight. Previous reports over the past year have indicated that during his hiatus, Duddy began to enjoy the life that boxing may have never let fully begin. In 2009, Duddy also married his long-time love. They are surrounded by family, and have changed their house into a home and focused on a dream worth living.
John Duddy will be missed in the sport of boxing, but his gracious and forthcoming exit will remain part of his legacy as a professional boxer, and man.
From the words of William Wallace, "Every man dies, not every man lives."
Clearly, John Duddy decided it's his turn to live.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: FightHype would like to welcome the very talented Charlene May to the team.]