by James Slater – 30-year-old Jamie Moore has been a fighter in the frame for a shot at a world title, and has been a fighter who has been spoken of as a worthy title challenger, for at least two years or more now, yet he has been made to continue to play the waiting game despite the fact that plenty of lesser men have been given a shot at glory. Well, things will at last change for the Manchester southpaw if he can defeat fellow Brit Ryan Rhodes on October 23rd..
In meeting the lefty from Sheffield, Moore will be defending his British 154-pound title as well as fighting what is now an official final eliminator for the interim WBC light-middleweight crown currently held by Spain’s Sergio Martinez. This makes the fight with Rhodes, a former two-time British champion who is also very much in the hunt for a world title, all the more intriguing and ever so important.
Moore, 32-3(23), captured his European belt back in March of this year, when he destroyed capable Italian Michele Piccirillo, a former world champion, inside just three rounds. Now he will be hoping he can get rid of the talented Rhodes in equally devastating fashion. However, Moore and his promoter Frank Maloney know the fight will not be easy.
“It’s just one fight now,” Rhodes said to The Bolton News. “The winner will officially be the mandatory challenger [the WBC 154-pound title]. I had hoped to fight Martinez next but we couldn’t make that happen – this is the next best thing. Rhodes was the British champion when I started out. I can’t wait and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Maloney spoke about how much of a 50-50 match-up the fight is.
“The fight is a natural, with so, so much at stake,” Maloney said. “The loser will find it hard to come back. I think Moore will win and go on to beat Martinez, but Rhodes is dangerous particularly early on and Jamie faces a tough night.”
32-year-old Rhodes, 42-4(28) has fought for an alphabet world title in the past, yet he came unstuck. As such, the slightly older yet recently rejuvenated man is still hungry and he will surely see himself winning and then going on to face Martinez instead of Moore. A very tough fight to pick a winner from, Moore’s sheer hunger and determination should see him through. But can he beat Martinez, yet another southpaw.
Martinez has a fine record at 44-1-2(24) and the sole loss came at the hands of Mexico’s Antonio Margarito, down at 147-pounds, back in early 2000. Only a draw that came very early in his career and another one last time out Vs. Kermit Cintron (where almost everyone felt Cintron was extremely lucky) blemish the 34-year-old’s otherwise perfect record. The winner of Moore-Rhodes will really have to go some to defeat the Spaniard.
Fighting at home will of course be a big advantage, and it remains to be seen where the fight between Martinez and October’s winner will take place. Also, inactive since the draw with Cintron back in February, will Martinez take another fight while he awaits October’s victor? A ring-rusty Martinez would likely have his hands full with either Rhodes or Moore.