One of Britain’s most popular fighters, Jamie Moore, mounted a supercharged performance this past Friday, taking the vacant European light middleweight title in riveting fashion with a third round knockout of former IBF welterweight champion Michele Piccirillo at Robin Park Arena in Wigan, England on a Frank Maloney promotion televised live by Sky Sports. Piccirillo bravely tried to keep the former British champion at bay but the Italian’s powershots just bounced off the aggressive Manchester icon and Moore punished Piccirillo as world champions such as Ricardo Mayorga and Vernon Forrest could not..
Displaying striking handspeed and an unerring sense of accuracy, Moore ripped his rival with piercing body shots that brought down Piccirillo’s guard and the Italian was soon hammered by the surprising quickness of Moore’s southpaw lead left hands.
A knockdown was ruled in the second when Piccirillo tripped but a Moore bodyshot, left to the jaw combination hurt and put down the Italian in the third before Moore finished the job with a perfect left hand liver shot that ended the bout at 2:15 of the round.
Jamie Moore wins the European Light Middleweight Champion and sees his record to 31-3 (22), while Piccirillo falls to 50-5 (29).
In the chief support bout, 2008 Olympic Bronze Medallist Darren Sutherland, 2-0 (2), continued to expertly pound his way through journeyman opposition as the Dublin star fully battered Siarhei Navarka, 6-23 (1), of Belarus enroute to a third round stoppage.
Middleweight Martin Murray, 13-0 (4), stopped Georgian import Mikheil Khucishvili, 11-5-2 (4), in the fourth of a scheduled six while Welsh bantamweight Matthew Edmonds, 10-2 (2), widely outpointed another Georgian, Kakhaber Avetisian, 10-9-1 (1), after six rounds
Super feather prospect Jonathan Kays, 7-1 (2), won on points after six rounds despite finding himself on the canvas earlier against Barrington Brown, 5-4-2 (2).
Light middleweight Alex Matvienko, 13-1-2 (4), won on points against Paul Royston, 30-3 (2), after six frames while Karl Place, 4-0 (1), did the same against tough workhorse Baz Carey, 11-41-4 (3), after four rounds at light welter.
Towering light middle Jack Arnfield, 9-0 (3), kept a perfect record by posting a four round points verdict over Dee Mitchell, 8-4 (2), while welter Rick Godding, 6-0 (0), also retained a pristine resume by outpointing Kristian Laight, 6-55-5 (0), over four.
Travis Dickinson had a tricky pro debut at light heavyweight, winning a four rounder on points while sustaining a cut against another debutante, Patrick Mendys, who was deducted a point in the third for having lost his gumshield three times.
Frank Maloney Promotions returns on Friday, March 20 when Ian Napa defends the Bantamweight Championship of Europe against former French titlist Malik Bouziane while British super flyweight champion Lee Haskins puts his title at risk against Commonwealth bantamweight kingpin Jason Booth at Newham Leisure Centre in London, England.
Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS2 at 10PM.
Shane Cameron Victorious!
Eugene Carnachan: New Zealand heavyweight Shane Cameron stopped American heavyweight Robert Davis won in the 11th round. The fight held in Camerons home town of Gisborne, New Zealand was Camerons first fight as pro on home turf. Cameron known to cut was cut via a head clash. Cameron came into the fight not carrying the muscular bulk fans are accustomed to seeing and he looked leaner then he has in quite some time. It may be that he is cutting down on weight to be lighter on his feet and he will need to be given he is facing the heavy hitting David Tua on his next outing.
Cameron didn’t come out with his accustomed sustained pressure and instead fought steadily and that may have been due to trying to put some rounds in the bank for the Tua fight. Davis didn’t turn up as an easy opponent and he wasn’t scared to exchange and throw down with Cameron. Cameron the busier fighter was stacking up the rounds and by round four he was starting to wear down the visibly bigger Davis.
By the 8th round it became apparent that Cameron had deflated the fight out of Davis and he was simply trying to hang on. In the 11th round Cameron stung Davis with a big right then threw everything but the kitchen sink into a barrage of punches and the ref decided he had seen enough and waived the fight off. David Tua with his granite laden jaw and noted power shapes as a great fight between New Zealands two premiere heavies. More to come.
Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” GUNNing for an Irish Homecoming
Hackensack, NJ – After blasting out Brad Gregory to win the WBA-NABA Cruiserweight title last week, Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” Gunn not only intended to fight the best in his division but display his talents all across the world.
“Between my pro and amateur career, I have fought in many great places” said Gunn, who also hold this WBC-USNBC Cruiserweight crown. “Many of my international experiences are still to this day some of my most memorable as a fighter. At this point of my career, I want to fight everywhere possible while pleasing fans from all four corners of the globe”.
Gunn’s global goals may in fact become a reality in the near future. Gunn was recently contacted by Ireland based Quinn Promotions. While Gunn was ecstatic about an attractive offer for a February fight in Ireland, he had to handle business in America first.
“They flew me over to Ireland to talk about a fight”, said Gunn, who boasts a pro record of 21-3-1 with 18 knockouts. “As intriguing as it was, I had to defend my WBC belt inside of the US within 90 days in order to advance myself. This turned out to be a beauty in disguise because I captured the NABA title in the process, therefore makes a fight overseas even bigger”, said the former IBA world Cruiserweight champion.
While many fighters have struggled without a promoter or manager, Gunn is ecstatic about the opportunities he has as a free agent.
“I just had a conversation earlier today with Quinn Promotions as well as Pascal Collins, who is the brother Irish boxing legend Stevie Collins. They are looking to have me fight in Ireland next month”. This would be extremely beneficial for me, my fans and my career”, said the former amateur star.
Specifics about Gunn’s invasion of Ireland will follow in the near future. Fans can contact Bobby at Myspace.com/TeamGunn.