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Moore: I'll crack America

10/ 7/2008

SALFORD boxer Jamie Moore had few problems in winning the Irish light middleweight title on Saturday night – and now he intends to use it to follow Ricky Hatton’s lead by ‘cracking America’.

The 29-year-old further enhanced his reputation for being one of the best British boxers around by becoming the first man in history to have held the Irish, British and Commonwealth light middleweight titles.

He floored Irish champion Ciaran Healy with body shots on three occasions in a comprehensive third round win at Dublin’s National Basketball Arena.

The manner of Moore’s victory will have given him a mighty confidence boost for his projected European title clash with Ukrainian Zaurbek Baysangurov in Wigan on Friday, September 26.

And Moore will then look to take his granite chin, heart of a lion and Irish title across the Atlantic in a bid to fulfil his ultimate dream of becoming a world champion.

Moore knows that Irish fighters can pull large crowds in eastern seaboard cities like Boston and New York and he is already being linked with an IBF light middleweight title fight with John Duddy should the unbeaten Irish-born American defeat Verno Phillips later this year.

Duddy’s manager Eddie McLoughlin has publicly stated that his man would be willing to give Moore a world title shot next Spring providing that he comes out on top in his proposed bout with Phillips.

Moore said: "My goal is to become a world champion and to achieve that goal I need to get my face known in America. I know that they are interested in taking me over there and it’s just a case of when.

"I gave up my British title to move on to bigger and better things but I will be keeping hold of the Irish title.

"Being an Irish champion is big news in New York. The title will help me in my bid to crack America. My good friend Ricky Hatton has done it and so will I.

"There are some good Irish fighters making a name for themselves in America and the Irish title may lead to me getting a piece of that action.

"One of those is James Moore. I could well end up fighting him – although I admit that that fight would be a nightmare for the commentators!

"Other ones are Andy Lee and John Derry.

"I have been linked with Derry, who has a great chin, and that fight looks like being a big possibility.

"That would be one hell of a fight. The fans would be in for a real treat with that one."

Moore qualified for an Irish title shot due to the fact that his mother Bernadette is from Kilkenny. And he will repay his mother’s faith, love and support by letting her keep hold of the belt between fights.

He said: "The belt is going to my mum as a sentimental thing for us. She has been a huge part of my life and my career and it’s great to be able to give her something back.

"I have so much pride in my Irish heritage. I think it’s that Irishness that makes me the exciting fighter that I am."

Meanwhile, Moore intends to make Baysangurov pay for his ‘cheek’ when the two meet for the European title.

Moore has been flabbergasted by the fact that the title holder has fought twice since pulling out of their original date due to a supposed fractured cheekbone in December – and is now lined up for a voluntary defence against Ivan Gontsa in Hamburg this Saturday, July 12.

Moore’s manager Steve Wood said: "Not bad for someone with a broken cheekbone!"