by James Slater – 30-year-old southpaw Jamie Moore says he cannot wait for his long overdue shot at the European light-middleweight title to arrive. After having had so much bad luck and so many fights for the title postponed – three times no less, was Moore set to face then EBU champ Zaurbek Baysangurov, only for the Russian to pull out on each occasion – Moore felt his big chance would never come..
But now, with Baysangurov having been stripped of the title, the Salford man will face former European champion Michele Piccirillo of Italy for the vacant belt this coming Friday night at Wigan’s Robin Park Arena. Moore is said to be in absolutely fantastic shape and is just craving the sound of the first bell.
Speaking to Manchester Evening News, Moore spoke about his upcoming fight with the former IBF welterweight champion from Italy.
“I have always said that when I get my chance, there would be nothing left undone, no corners cut, no room for any excuses,” Moore said. “I have been in a twelve week training camp, worked through Christmas and New Year. I can’t believe the fight is nearly here.
“I even went through a phase a few weeks ago when I jumped every time the phone rang and it was either my manager or my trainer. I half-expected them to tell me Piccirillo had pulled out, or something else had gone wrong. I was messed about so much by Baysangurov, but he ended up stripped of the title and got his comeuppance when he got stopped (in the 5th-round) by Cornelius Bundrage.
“Even if Piccirillo pulls out tomorrow, I still feel as though the European Boxing Union would let me fight for the title.”
Hopefully, this won’t be the case and the Italian veteran with the 50-4(29) record will show up to fight! Heaven knows Moore, whose incredible 2006 war with Matthew Macklin will never be forgotten, deserves his chance to win the title. And the 30-3(21) lefty is determined to win.
Jamie told the paper how he will get himself pumped up prior to the opening bell.
“I’ll sit down and watch some old fights – like Barrera-Morales, Hagler-Hearns, and maybe a few [of] Nigel Benn’s,” Moore said. “It gets me in the mood – those fellas are the reason I got into boxing in the first place, so watching them fight brings back all the old feelings, and motivates me.”
Moore may never be as big a name as the fighters on tape he will be watching an hour or so before he takes care of Piccirillo on Friday night (as he surely will, as hungry and determined as he is) – but he is already a hugely respected fighter in Britain.
Look for the Moore to stop the 39-year-old from Italy some time in the second half of the fight.