John Duddy & Howard Eastman Weigh In by Steve Wellings Dec 8th 2007

There were no such problems this week as all boxers on the Brian Peters promotion made weight at the King's Hall open weigh in yesterday afternoon. The hometown favourite John Duddy went first and scaled 11 stone 5 lb 4 oz, followed by his opponent Howard Eastman who came in a fraction heavier at 11 stone 6 lb. In the main support bouts, Paul McCloskey weighed 9 stone 13 lb 4 oz while his opponent Tontcho Tontchev came in at 9 stone 12 lb 13 oz. Stephen Haughian scaled 10 stone 6 lb 10 oz while Italian Giammario Grasselini (who scaled first) was 10 stone 5 lb 10oz. Ciaran Healy limbered up for his Irish Light Middleweight shot at Lee Murtagh (announced as Light Heavyweight!) by weighing 10 stone 12lb 12oz, Murtagh was 10 stone 13lb 6oz. Alo Kelly from the South of Ireland got a few cheers as he made to the scales, coming in at a solid 12 stone 6lb 8oz. His bemused looking Latvian opponent Sandris Tomson entered at 12 stone 6oz. James Gorman was chatting away calmly at ringside before his turn came and he was on the ball as usual coming in at 9 stone 11lb 6oz; his unbeaten foe Andrew Murray had a nasty looking red blemish over his right eye which will hopefully not be a factor as he was announced at 9 stone 10lb 10oz. Debutant Damian Taggart was 10 stone 9lb 10oz while his well received opponent Peter Dunn was significantly heavier at 11 stone 4lb 8oz. Willie Thompson scaled 10 stone 12lb 12oz and tattooed journeyman Duncan Cottier 10 stone 13lb 10oz. Another first timer Kaine Brodie outweighed his opponent Andrei Tolstihs by 12 stone 3lb 12oz to the Latvian's 11 stone 11lb 12oz. Martin Lindsay was late coming to the scales as he was delayed by traffic (there was a funeral procession just yards up the road) but when he did eventually make the podium he was a solid 9 stone 2lb 20z. His flamboyant adversary Edison Torres of Venezuela scaled 9 stone on the button. Harry McGavock as usual was the MC while television cameras from around Ireland filmed the rather subdued event. There was no false resentment by either of the protagonists; only a formal head to head and handshake, all along Eastman had a cheeky grin across his face. Promoter Brian Peters was busying himself, dashing around at ringside trying to organise the medicals as officials searched in vain for the missing doctor! Some familiar faces were present including Eamonn Magee, Dave Macaulay, Martin Rogan, Scott Belshaw and members of the BBC sport team. Veteran Boxing scribe Jack Magowan –last week involved in a heated discussion with Wayne McCullough- was patrolling the ring apron, possibly waiting to pounce if a fighter failed to make weight! I got talking to Robert McCracken after the weigh in, about Eastman's chances. He didn't feel 10 rounds would be a problem “Howard has done the 12 numerous times” he said before we discussed matters closer to home, both being Black Country natives. Peter Dunn was in cheery form at ringside, talking about his recently completed 100th bout. He had no plans to try and catch Peter Buckley's 300 bouts anytime soon, admitting he will assess his future at the end of the season. The MC stressed upon every writer and broadcaster present to inform of the first bell being at 4.40pm, with the doors opening at 4.30pm. That's a tight squeeze but definitely a show to look forward to.

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