I'm not a big fan of boxing, but two Irish boxers are making the American news lately. First, Kevin McBride has been announced as Mike Tyson's next opponent. McBride is not expected to beat Tyson, but the Boston Herald explains that McBride's not to be taken lightly either.
The Herald refers to McBride as the "Clones Colossus", but according to the Sunday Life, McBride is from Smithboro (Smithborough?), which I suppose in global terms is close enough.
The New York Times had an article last week about John Duddy, who's from Ireland originally, but now living in New York. According to the Times Duddy is the "city's latest great boxing hope". Duddy found out that being Irish in NY is a big advantage for a boxer because he can always count on a good following. "I never knew how lucky I was to be Irish till I came to America," he said.
So far Duddy, whose father was a successful boxer in Ireland, is 9-0 and looking for a bout with a contender. The next Barry McGuigan, perhaps?
