By Andrew Wake
The past twelve months have been filled with disappointment for Salford’s crowd pleasing southpaw Jamie Moore..
He’s had trouble with a serious shoulder injury and has seen chances to move to the level that his evident skills deserve fall by the wayside, but the set backs have done little to dampen his ambitions and, after successful surgery to fix the troublesome shoulder, he’s promising his ever growing army of fans a whole new animal when he returns to the ring against tough Mexican Esau Herrera at the City of Manchester Stadium next month.
“I’ve gone back to training and the difference has been unbelievable.” The 29 year old said. “In the past couple of years I’ve been limited to the types of shots I can throw but it’s all coming back to me now and I think someone might be in a bit of trouble when they get on the end my left hand.”
At the Robin Park Centre in Wigan last December, Moore was due to take on undefeated puncher Zaubek Baysangurov for the European light-middleweight crown, but the bout was scrapped after the Russian champion pulled out at the eleventh hour.
Moore, who is still the mandatory challenger, is determined to get the fight resurrected and feels that he can’t wait around for long.
“I need to get a move on with my career because I ain’t getting any younger.” He admitted. “It’s been frustrating so the sooner I get it done the better.
“I think the fight should happen either in late July or early next season (August or September) but I need to get some rounds under my belt first and make sure that I’m 100% first and that’s why I need the warm up fight with Herrera.”
If you don’t already know, Jamie is a massive Manchester United fan and his comeback appearance at the home of arch rivals City has already caused some banter with his good friend and Sky Blue fanatic Ricky Hatton.
“I text Ricky and told him that I’ll be wearing my United shorts for the fight and he text back ‘You better make sure you knock him out quick because you lot get no points at our ground.’” (Laughs)
On a more serious note, he added: “It’s fantastic exposure for me and hopefully I can get a good performance out because they will be some important people there from America, you know, people from Goldenboy. If I impress it might be sooner rather than later when I get a shot.”
One man who has been very vocal about his desire to face Moore is fellow southpaw and newly crowned British champion Ryan Rhodes but, while Moore respects the fighter formally known as ‘The Spice Boy’, he says he’s not someone who is on his radar at present.
“He’s come back and won the British title when everyone was writing him off at one point and saying he was finished years ago, but I’ve got big ambitions and when I win the European title I won’t be looking backwards to Ryan Rhodes, no disrespect to him but I’ll looking forwards to a world title.
“I’m number one in Europe and I’m highly regarded in America so, from his point of view, a win over me would shoot him straight up the rankings, but as far as I’m concerned I’m not interested.”
He added: “If I was to win a world title and Rhodes came on and won the European title then it could be a natural fight for the British public but until then there’s no reward in it for me.”