Niles’ Lyell shocks Duddy

By Joe Scalzo

He earned a split decision victory over the previously undefeated Irishman.

A few months ago, when Billy Lyell learned he was going to fight John Duddy, he knew he had the opportunity he’d been waiting for.

And boy, did he take advantage.

The 24-year-old Niles native earned a split decision victory in a 10-round middleweight bout Friday night in Newark, N.J., dealing the previously undefeated Irishman a huge blow to his career. Duddy had entered the bout as the No. 2-ranked contender for Kelly Pavlik’s WBO title.

“I’m just so happy because I’ve worked so hard and put in so much time,” said Lyell, speaking by phone on Saturday afternoon. “To get the win, I just feel real satisfied.

“To beat an undefeated fighter, it gives me a great feeling.”

Almost everyone in the audience of 4,000 fans — most of them Duddy supporters — thought the popular Irishman would make quick work of Lyell, a recent Youngstown State graduate who had struggled to a 6-4 record over his previous 10 fights.

But Lyell (19-7) proved to be the aggressor from the opening bell to the finish. Two of the three judges gave the win to Lyell, 98-92 and 97-93, while the third judge favored Duddy, 96-94.

“We backed him up and got him doing things he’s not used to doing,” said Lyell. “He’s used to coming forward and with me being smaller, I think he was surprised I was able to push him back.

“Going into the fight, I never thought I was in over my head. We knew we weren’t going in against Kelly Pavlik. I never thought he [Duddy] was the second-best middleweight in the world.”

Although Lyell dominated the early rounds, Duddy fought back in the middle rounds and made it closer, but not close enough.

Afterward, even Duddy’s manager admitted Lyell won the fight.

“I thought he stuck to the game plan,” said Lyell’s trainer, Jack Loew, who also trains Pavlik. “He was in great shape and I think he exposed Duddy for what he was. Every punch Billy threw, he pretty much hit him with.

“Duddy is not a hard person to find. I knew as long as we stayed busy and backed the kid up, we’d win this fight.”

Duddy, who lives in nearby New York, sustained a cut over his left eye early in the bout and afterward went to the hospital to have the cut examined. But while Lyell felt he won the bout, he admitted he was nervous when the result was announced.

“I just kept thinking, ‘There’s no way they can take it from me. I beat this guy.’” said Lyell. “But there’s always a little doubt. We were right in his backyard and with 4,000 fans, I thought, ‘Well, maybe they can.’

“I was a little nervous.”

The victory is expected to significantly boost Lyell’s career.

“Without a doubt, we will be seeing Billy Lyell ranked in the top 10 in the middleweight class,” said Lyell’s manager, Pat Nelson. “Expect to see him in the top 10. This was a huge win.”

Duddy’s handlers have already discussed a rematch in Ireland and Lyell could also earn a three-fight deal in Europe with Sauerland, the German promotion company that handles IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham. If he chooses the latter option, Lyell’s next bout could come against Sebastian Sylvester, a middleweight ranked in the top 10 by three of the four sanctioning bodies.

“I don’t know exactly what direction I’ll go,” said Lyell. “The more offers, the better.”

Duddy’s career, meanwhile, took a huge blow. Last year, he was headed for a $1 million payday against Pavlik before suffering multiple cuts in a win over unheralded Walid Smichet in February 2008.

Since then, he had won two bouts by unanimous decision and needed an impressive win over Lyell to regain career momentum.

“When the decision was announced, Duddy had the real look of a man thinking, ‘What do I do now?’” said Loew. “His head was down, his hands were to the side.

“He had no complaint [about the voting].”

Although Lyell has had an up-and-down pro career, many of his losses were due more to his competition than lackluster efforts on his part, Loew said. The 5-foot-9 Lyell has simply been overpowered in a few fights, where he was competitive at the beginning but eventually wore down.

“Even against the big names, Billy was in those fights,” said Lyell. “Billy fought way tougher opponents than Duddy and his experience paid off.”

Added Lyell, “In my opinion, I’ve fought guys way tougher than Duddy. But because they didn’t have the big name, you wouldn’t read about it the next day in the newspaper.”

With more victories like Friday’s, expect that to change.

XVindicator staff writer John Kovach contributed to this report.