Northern Ireland middleweight contender John Duddy will return to Madison Square Garden this Saturday confident he has the all-round style to get back into contention for a world title shot.
Duddy, 30, will step into the ring against US-based Mexican Jorge 'Michi' Munoz (21-3, 14 KOs), for his first bout since losing his first professional fight last April in a split decision against unheralded American Billy Lyell.
New York-based Duddy (26-1, 17 KOs) has returned to trainer Harry Keitt after a two-year spell that saw him adopt a less explosive style under the guidance of first Don Turner and then Pat Burns.
Duddy was one fight away from a summer showdown with Pavlik when he was sucked into a bloody battle with Walid Smichet in February last year.
Though he won the fight a deep cut above his eye left on the sidelines as Pavlik's handlers switched their attentions to Welshman Gary Lockett.
Now with a new management set-up and back in tandem with Keitt, with whom he turned professional in 2003 and scored 15 of his 17 knockouts in his first 20 pro fights, Duddy says he is looking forward to returning to some of his old ways.
"I know what I'm capable of, I know what I'm good at and I think the days of me being a pretty dancer are long, long behind me," Duddy said.
"I've got to work on what's right for me and what's good for me."
Duddy has built a loyal and vociferous following among his fellow expatriates and Irish Americans during his time in New York and they had revelled in his barnstorming style on numerous occasions at Madison Square Garden.
The middleweight believes those fans are in for another treat this weekend as he attempts to get back on the world title trail.
He is happily taking an undercard slot to a double world championship bill featuring WBO light featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez against Rogers Mtagwa and WBA featherweight titleholder Yuriorkis Gamboa versus Whyber Garcia.
"I'd just like to get back to the snappy, explosive self that I've been known to be in the Garden," Duddy said.
"Munoz is a come forward fighter as well so I think it's going to be an exciting fight and one in which I can put the foot down and show everybody there's something to look forward to."
© Press Association