America at Large: John Duddy had just returned to his apartment in Middle Village, Queens, following a sparring session at Gleason's Gym on Monday afternoon when he began to feel dizzy. Dropping the equipment bag he was carrying, he collapsed on the stairs.
The blistering heatwave that has killed dozens of Americans over the past several days also managed to accomplish what 17 professional opponents have been unable to do: it knocked Duddy out of a fight.
The undefeated Derry middleweight had been scheduled to fly from New York to Las Vegas today in preparation for a televised bout against Carlos Bojorquez at the Orleans Casino next Wednesday night, but the alarming brush with the elements caused his handlers to pull the plug.
The moment he learned of Duddy's fainting episode, an alarmed Irish Ropes matchmaker Jim Borzell contacted Dr Osric King, a ringside physician for the New York State Athletic Commission.
Dr King ticked off a laundry list of symptoms and, after Duddy answered affirmatively to virtually all of them, was able to diagnose heat prostration and dehydration. The doctor decided intravenous fluids were unnecessary but did prescribe rest and an ample intake of fluids.
Since staying in bed for several days while consuming voluminous quantities of Gatorade is decidedly antithetical to the preparations of a boxer already struggling with weight, the decision to withdraw from next week's fight wasn't a difficult one at all from Borzell's standpoint.
Duddy has already been replaced by Jose Zertuche, another Mexican, as the opponent for Bojorquez.
The frightening episode resonated with the events of 20 years ago this summer, when Barry McGuigan travelled to Vegas to defend his featherweight championship against Steve Cruz.
Cruz, a lightly regarded Texan, had replaced Alejandro Sosa in the challenger's role after the latter had suffered a detached retina. He probably loomed even less of a threat to McGuigan than Bojorquez did to Duddy, but, overcome by the sweltering heat (estimates varied from 100 to 127 degrees Fahrenheit), the Clones Cyclone was floored twice in the 15th round of a fight he wound up losing by a single point on two judges' cards.
Even though he staggered to the finish, it has often been pointed out, McGuigan would have won that night had be been able to stay on his feet over the final three minutes.
On the other hand, McGuigan would have retained his title on a draw, despite the two final-round knockdowns, had be not been penalised a point by referee Richard Steele for a desperate low blow in the 12th.
"It's not exactly the same, because Barry was fighting outdoors, in 100-degree heat," said Borzell as he recalled the events of June 23rd, 1986. "John would have been indoors, in an air- conditioned arena. But if I told you it (the cautionary McGuigan tale) didn't come up in our conversations, I'd be lying.
"John was just a little boy when that happened, but remember, his father (Mickey Duddy) often sparred with McGuigan, so he grew up hearing all about it," added Borzell.
Since his recuperative regimen dictated Duddy avoid morning roadwork and sparring sessions at the unventilated sweatbox that is Gleason's during what should have been a critical period of preparation, the decision to pull out of the Bojorquez fight would appear to have been a wise one.
"There were enormous pressures to stay with the fight," admitted Borzell. "Hundreds of John's fans from New York had already bought airplane tickets and fight tickets, but in the end we had to do what was right for the fighter. John is disappointed for his fans, but there is no way he could be ready to go on August 10th. We're still looking forward to a big fight for John in New York next month."
Although Bojorquez wouldn't have been a walkover (he is 28-8-6, but five of the eight losses came to former world champions Ike Quartey, Verno Phillips, Travis Simms, Kassim Ouma and Shibata Flores), a more immediate result of the cancellation is that it robs Duddy of a tune-up for his next fight, in which he is scheduled to face the former world champion Luis Ramon (Yory Boy) Campas in the main event of a September 29th Irish Ropes show at the Madison Square Garden Theatre.
Campas is coming off a win in his last outing, but he has some miles on him. With 96 pro fights on his CV, he may be the oldest 34-year-old in captivity, but he does loom the sternest test Duddy will have faced to date.
If all goes to plan, says Duddy's Mayo-born manager Eddie McLoughlin, the next step would be a return home for the former All-Ireland champion's first pro bout on Irish soil.
McLoughlin said he envisioned a fight against Jim Rock for the Irish middleweight title in Dublin "before Christmas". Rock's promoter Brian Peters has pencilled in November 11th for that encounter, but Borzell isn't holding his breath. "Remember, Rock could have had this date (August 10th), but he said it didn't give him enough time to train," said Borzell, who travelled to Dublin to see The Pink Panther in action against Kevin Phelan two months ago. "June until August wasn't enough time? I'm not convinced that Rock wants to fight Duddy at all."
