01/12/07

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30/11/07 - Titles on the line as Baysangurov pulls out. 

Frank Maloney promotions & VIP boxing have announced two additional title bouts that will replace the European title fight involving Jamie Moore and Zaurbek Baysangurov (following the Russian’s withdrawal due to injury). The bouts, which will be televised by Sky Sports as part of the UK leg of Ricky Hatton versus Floyd Mayweather, will see Gary “Hot stuff” Woolcombe face off against Marcus Portman for the vacant British Light Middleweight title, and Ghanaian Anyetei Laryea defending his Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight title against Leicester’s Rendall Munroe.

Woolcombe 24-1 (9) will be hoping to fulfil his early promise and potential by emerging victorious with the recently vacated British Light Middleweight championship, a title which looked like eluding the twenty-five year old following his fifth round knockout defeat to Andrew Facey back in January of this year. Standing in his way will be Midlands stylist Marcus Portman 18-5-1 (3). Portman has won all of his last six outings, including a pair of useful victories over Hungarian Jozsef  Matolcsi (for the lightly regarded WBF title), and although entering the ring as underdog, the West Bromwich Boxer has made a marked improvement since his first round knockout defeat to Chris Saunders back in 2004.

Ghanaian Anyetei Laryea 17-3 (8) forced Darlington’s Isaac Ward  to retire on his stool after four very one sided rounds during their Commonwealth Super-bantamweight contest back in October. Rendall Munroe will hope to take what positives he can form that devastating performance and look to down the relatively unknown Ghanaian come December 8^th. Darlington’s Munroe has only one previous blemish on his record, a points defeat against Manchester’s Andy Morris. Munroe 13-1 (6) has won all three of his outings since the defeat to Morris (which incidentally came at Featherweight), two of which have come before the final bell.

Completing a bumper night of title bout action will be Chris Edwards’ defence of his Super Flyweight title against Jamie McDonnell, and Ali Nuumbembe defending his Commonwealth Welterweight title against the in-form Craig Watson of Manchester. Also appearing on the bill will be former IBO Super Flyweight champion Jason Booth and local favourites Brian Rose, Mark Thompson, Alex Mattvienko, Gary Sykes, Scott Haywood, Mark Moran, Jack Arnfield & Jason Rushton.

Tickets are priced at £40, £80 and £125 are still available from the boxers/venue or www.vipbe.co.uk - prices include a live big screen showing of the Hatton v Mayweather contest. Doors open at 7.30 for boxing to commence at 8.00 pm. Entertainment, food and drink will be available through the night. 

Sam Doleman 

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28/11/07 - FULL CARD FOR THE 8^TH DECEMBER SHOW AT WIGAN

 

12 X 3 JAMIE MOORE v BAYSANGOROV – EUROPEAN LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE

12 X 3 CHRIS EDWARDS v JAMIE McDONNELL – BRITISH SUPER FLYWEIGHT TITLE

12 X 3 ALI NUUMBEMBEE v CRAIG WATSON   -  COMMONWEALTH WELTERWEIGHT TITLE

 6  x 3 BRIAN ROSE v SEAN FALMER

 6 x 3 MARK THOMPSON v SERGIE STARKOV

 6 x 3 SCOTT HEYWOOD v GAVIN TAIT

 6 X 3 MARK MORAN v DANNY WALLACE

 6 x 3 GARY SYKES v PETER ALLEN

 6 X 3 JASON BOOTH v TBA

 4 X 3 ALEX MATVIENKO v MARK PHILLIPS

 4 X 3 JASON RUSHTON v TBA

 4 x 3 JACK ARNFIELD v TBA 

The above 12 fights make up for a splendid evening of boxing at the Robin Park Arena and tickets priced £40/£80 and £125 are still available from the boxers/venue or www.vipbe.co.uk  - prices include for big screening of the Hatton v Mayweather contest. Doors open at 7.30 for boxing to commence at 8.00 pm and the title fights are planned for 10 pm , 11pm and midnight. Entertainment ,Food and drink will be available through the night.      

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30/10/07 - Moore moves into Europe. 

Fresh from retaining his British title with an 11^th round stoppage of Andrew Facey, Jamie Moore will challenge European light-middleweight champion Zaurbek Baysangurov, in Wigan on December 8^th.  In what is an already bumper night of boxing for UK fight fans, Moore will headline the UK leg of the much anticipated showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton. His long awaited European title shot seen by Sky TV as the perfect entrée in preparation for the sublime Las Vegas main course.  

A mere 6 weeks from his self confessed below par performance against Andrew Facey, Moore will step into the ring for what is undoubtedly the biggest fight of his eight year professional career. The twenty-two year old Russian, Zaurbek Baysangurov, is unbeaten in all sixteen of his professional outings, and has finished an impressive twelve of his opponents inside the distance.  

Baysangurov’s most impressive showing came against the big hitting Mexican, Marco Antonio Rubio, back in September of 2006. Rubio was coming off a split decision defeat against world rated Kassim Ouma, who later went on to face Jermain Taylor in a moderately competitive Middleweight showdown. Not afraid of the challenge ahead Baysangurov widely outpointed Rubuio, despite being decked in the very first round (Baysangurov won the fight 118-109 on two cards, and 118-108 on the other). 

Following the Rubio fight Baysangurov endured ten months of inactivity before the Russian youngster found himself facing French tough nut Hussein Byram for the vacant EBU title in July of this year. With twelve nip and tuck rounds completed, the referee went to the three judges at ringside. All three awarded the contest to Baysangurov, 114-113 (twice) and 115-113. 

Baysangurov’s first defence couldn’t be any tougher. Following his EBU victory Baysangurov has moved to #10 in the WBC rankings, with Moore losing ground and dropping to #16.  Moore has patiently awaited his European title challenge and hopes a victory will see him catapult back up the rankings, and within touching distance of a world title eliminator. With hometown advantage secured by VIP promotions, a sell out pro-Moore partisan crowd is guaranteed come fight night. And with Jamie Moore in one corner, full throttle excitement is a given. 

For ticket information please visit  www.vipbe.com

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31/10/07 Moore given Facey scare

Jamie Moore was given a real scare by Sheffield-based Andrew Facey at the Robin Park arena in Wigan last Friday night.

Moore finally felled the challenger with 46 seconds of the 11^th  round remaining. The victory took Moore to 28-3 (19) and surely brought the curtain down on what has been a lengthy British title reign.  

The first round began with Moore looking to dig the southpaw jab to the body. Facey seemed content moving backwards whilst looking to catch Jamie on the way in with his straight left-right combination. Up close Facey looked to utilise his long arms to hold Moore and nullify Jamie’s solid work on the inside. Facey’s big body was clearly an early target for Moore, and Team Facey were well aware of the potential Moore body attack. 

Andrew was adamant to be first to the punch during the opening minutes of the second round. As Moore drove in looking to close the distance, Facey would throw a one-two, or a one, two, three then move backwards again. A blueprint for the next few rounds was set as Facey ensured anything up close was smothered, and when at range he would be throwing punches whilst back pedaling.

The third round continued as the second ended, although Jamie did show some feints and dips on the way in. Facey forced the action and took the centre of the ring for the last minute of the round, something which turned the tide in his favour when he faced Gary Woolcombe. His corner could be heard to shout “Spear him with the jab ,Andrew”.

Jamie’s punches seemed to lack a little snap by the middle of the fourth round. The head movement had once again become non-existent, which led to Facey landing with relative ease against a fighter whose defence had been so tight against Mathew Macklin some twelve months ago.

The fifth round saw Facey back Moore to the ropes and unleash a barrage of punches. Jamie lent back into the ropes and covered up, nothing much landed to head or body although the barrage awoke the crowd, especially when Moore fired back with a left to the chin of Facey. The right-left combination sent the challenger back onto the ropes himself.

Moore came out for the sixth firing. A straight left sent Facey stumbling back, and before he could re-set himself Moore had closed the gap and fired in another couple of straight shots, before Facey once against denied him the time and space up close by holding. The message form Moore was clear, he wanted centre of the ring and he was prepared to expand energy to get it. 

With the centre of the ring firmly in his grasp Moore looked to harass and dog Facey as the Sheffield man backed up towards the ropes, firing out the jab in an attempt to keep Moore at bay. At the end of the seventh Moore looked visibly tired in the corner as Oliver Harrison informed him it was time to finish the contest. 

The eight and ninth round saw Moore try to tuck up tight and come form low to fire shots to Facey. The battle for the centre of the ring had turned again with Facey the aggressor come the start of the ninth round. Moore appeared to stumble backwards following an exchange, but to me this looked more like fatigue than a solid shot. Facey looked to follow up but Moore bobbed and weaved on the ropes before sending a superb right hand straight down the middle, and into the upright chin of Facey. Another stunning right cross followed by a left hook sent Facey sprawling sideways into the ropes. Facey rose at eight, but as the action continued a re-energised Moore fired a right hand to Facey whos attempts to fire back were looking increasingly cumbersome. With only  a minute of the round to go Facey attempted to hold as the Salford man piled on the pressure.  Moore sensibly took his time to pick his shots, Facey somehow saw out the round. 

Moore looked calm and composed in the tenth, as if a weight had been taken from his shoulders. Facey on the other hand looked, for the first time in the contest, like he could taste defeat. A lead right hook once again sent spray form the forehead of Facey as Moore circled and preyed on the Sheffield challenger. 

A right hook at the start of the eleventh round was the beginning of the end for Facey. Moore had finally found his range and appeared able to close the space down whilst getting his shots off. Facey once again tasted the canvas after just seventy seconds of the round, he rose at the count of eight but the end was inevitable. Facey again hit the canvas, although this time referee Howard Foster decided it was more down to fatigue than a solid punch from Moore. The contest was finally over as Moore landed two straight right shots and Facey slumped to the Canvas. There was no need for howard Foster to administer a count on this occasion, the fight had finally gone from Andrew Facey.     

Following the fight Jamie was brutally honest about his performance. 

“I was very rusty, and you can’t be rusty against someone as elusive and awkward as Andrew Facey. Once again though I stuck it out and managed to grind out a victory. You have to be on your mettle to beat Andrew Facey and tonight I did just enough. I was far from my best. One thing is for sure I’ll be 100% for the European title fight” 

In a disappointing end to what was surely the final chapter of Mooresy’s domestic storey, Jamie once again proved he can dig deep and pick up a victory when the things aren’t going to plan. Facey, on the other hand, further raised his profile within the division. Whilst Facey v Moore 3 isn’t something that appeals to me in the near future, I for one hope the board give Facey an opportunity once Jamie decides to release his stranglehold on the domestic strap. It’ll take a superb domestic fighter to beat the awkward and always game Andrew “Smiley” Facey at light middleweight, that’s for sure. As for Jamie, a contest with Zaurbek Baysangurov is surely on the horizon…. watch this space.

By Sam Doleman

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27/10/07 - Moore Wins Again .....

Jamie Moore made another successful defense of his British light-middleweight title last night,  with an 11th round knockout victory over Andrew Facey.

Full report to follow .....

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19/09/07 - Jamie Moore Interview .....

Think Jamie Moore and one word springs to mind - 'Warrior'.

And after meeting the Salford-born powerhouse at Oliver's gym this week, for a brief chat ahead of his second meeting with respected domestic foe Andrew Facey on October 26, you can add the words 'honest', 'frustrated' and 'prepared' to the list.

Moore has experienced a summer of discontent, but it's not the bad weather and an ill-timed bout of flu - an ailment that put paid to a July meeting with Vincent Vuma - that grazed the nerves of the VIP star's season, but a series of knock backs and no-shows that left the 29-year-old with a bitter taste in the mouth.

Indeed, when I refer to the summer he balks at the notion, referring instead to two years of trials and tribulations that were nothing to do with him, issues that were out of his chiseled fighting hands.

"It's been a tough time for me, I've had to be very, very patient," says Moore, whose record stands at 27-3 (18 KOs) after a points victory over Andres Sebastian Lujan in April.

"Its been a frustrating two years, never mind the summer, its been bobbins"

"I've been treading water and it has been very hard for me"

"After the Macklin fight last year I was promised a lot of things but they haven't happened for me, and now I'm fighting Facey again, its not the position I wanted to be in at this point in my career."

Stablemate Mark Thompson stepped in at just six days notice when Jamie was forced to pull out of the Vuma fight with a virus, leaving Thompson to give a determined, gritty and impressive performance in losing to the solid South African at Wigan's Robin Park Centre.

The Heywood banger is now pushing for a British title fight while Jamie is left to tread water, but he refuses to underestimate Facey, despite having beaten him four years ago.

"I train hard for every opponent, but am confident I'll win. Training is going very well and I'm in great shape," he says.

"But this isn't the fight I should be having. Who wants to see this fight again? The public don't, and after the Vuma's fight with Mark that is the match fans wanted to see me in.

"We're both ranked highly by the WBC, it would have been a springboard for me but for now I'll concentrate on the fight ahead, that's my priority."

Arguably the toughest fight of Jamie's career to date was the thrilling demolition of Matthew Macklin last September.

The Birmingham fighter is now operating at middleweight, and Jamie insists that is a rematch he might fancy.

"If Macklin wins his next fight and gets a European title shot I'd consider fighting him should he win the belt," he says.

"It wouldn't be a problem for me moving up a weight because it means I would be able to eat my tea properly!

"Whatever happens though I'm looking forward to the Facey fight but I need to get my career moving, and quickly."

By Martin Williams

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16/07/07 - Jamie Moore to get honorary degree .....

Salford-born boxing champion Jamie Moore is to receive an honorary degree from the University of Salford on Tuesday 17 July 2007.

 The 28-year-old British title holder, who lives in Salford, will be made a Master of Science for his contribution to sport and his unstinting work with young people in the community.

 Jamie became a professional light-middleweight boxer in 1999 and is now ranked 10^th in the World Boxing Council’s world rankings.  As the British light-middleweight champion who has won the famous Lonsdale Belt, he has advanced the ‘Manchester style’ of boxing together with other top fighters like Ricky Hatton. 

From his working class roots, Jamie has dedicated his career to helping young people stay off the streets and out of trouble.  As a youngster, finding it difficult to purchase affordable, good quality boxing equipment, he later researched and launched his range of kits aimed at those parents and children who would have been put off the sport by expensive equipment. 

Jamie said: “I’m very proud to receive this award from Salford University.  It’s a long time since I was in education and I never expected to get a degree.  It’s fantastic to think my work with school kids is being recognised.  I just want to make a positive difference to young people and encourage them to reach their full potential.”

 Paul Wilson, Associate Dean of Enterprise in the University’s School of Health Care Professions, said: “We’re delighted to present this degree to Jamie.  It is not only his great achievements in sport for which he deserves recognition, but for his valuable charity work with the community and local schools. 

“As well as his top boxing skills, Jamie’s talents lie in helping to raise the aspirations of young people from all types of backgrounds.  That philosophy is at the heart of this University and Jamie couldn’t be a better example for our staff and students.” 

Other honorary graduands at the University of Salford this year are sociologist Professor Eileen Fairhurst and Professor Peter Edwards, a University of Salford graduate and chemist.

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13/06/07 - Moore out of WBC shot .....

 

Jamie has a viral infection which has hampered his training has caused Jamie to withdraw from the show in Wigan on the 6th of July.  This bill - being shown live on Sky TV will now see Mark Thompson show his balls and steps in for Jamie and will fight Vincent Vuma for the WBC International title.

The seasoned southpaw Moore traded on his considerable big fight experience to ride out the storm early on via tight defense and a series of uppercuts that snapped Macklin's head back in alarming fashion. 

Still Macklin came like an unrelenting North Sea storm, lashing out at the champion with his complete arsenal and by the midway point of the contest, Moore had largely abandoned his cagey defense and was trading full blooded power shots with the challenger in a series of dramatic firefights. 

The tide ebbed and flowed in the bout many times as both Macklin and Moore were by turns stunned by the other's ferocity of purpose and ability to ram home flush shots. 

The eighth round was contested at a torrid clip as Macklin gave one last push to nail down the lid on the champion's reign but the Birmingham native simply couldn't extinguish the pure fire that fueled Moore's engine.

By the ninth it was apparent that the challenger had depleted his reserve tank and was subjected to a brutal gloved downpour from Moore, smelling blood as he closed in for the kill.

Macklin made it through the ninth through sheer will but the end came in the tenth as first a clubbing right then a spear-like southpaw left from Moore tore through the challenger's guard and hurtled the exhausted Midlands man hard onto the canvas. 

The fight was immediately over with Macklin out cold for over five minutes

before coming to. The defeated challenger was carried from the ring in a stretcher and taken to a local hospital where he is reported to be recovering well.

After the bout ,the 27 year old Moore, 25-3 (18), praised the toughness of Macklin, 17-2 (13), and vowed to give up the British title in order to target the European crown. The Manchester area fighter also hopes for an opportunity at genuine world honors before a self imposed retirement takes effect at age 30.

Jamie beat the normally durable Ukraine fighter Vladimir Borovski on Friday night with a 3rd round stoppage . Jamie has been promised a big fight in Manchester during April and is now having a week in the sun before resuming training.

 

Steve Wood, blames himself for the busted lip Jamie received on Friday night . Always one to tell the fighters not to take it easy ,Steve took his responsibilities easy last week and never bothered with a video of the Ukraine kid. The opening punch was a sweet uppercut that busted Jamie's mouth and it connected before we realized that we were fighting a southpaw. Considering Jamie had no southpaw sparring he did a very good number on the Ukraine.