Jamie Moore Left to Wait in Vain (Opportunity Knocks for the KO Kid) by Terry Dooley Jul 4th 2007

If you take Ricky Hatton's recent demolition of Jose Luis Castillo out of the equation it becomes clear that a strong case can be made for Jamie Moore as the most exciting fighter in the North West over the past year and a half. Moore has improved steadily over the past eighteen months. Solid wins over Vladimir Borovski, Mike Algoet, Matthew Macklin, Mugurel Sebe and Sebastian Andres Lujan have come during this rich vein of form. Jamie has broken into the top-end of the WBC light-middleweight rankings, this, seemingly, is where the hard work really begins. In search of improvement on his number ten ranking Jamie signed to fight Vincent Vuma for the WBC International title this Friday, at the Robin Park Centre in Wigan, only for Jamie, after training hard for the fight, to withdraw from the bout citing a viral infection. Unfortunately for Jamie this setback means he will have to wait a bit longer to continue chipping away at the WBC top ten. Jamie's misfortune, though, has brought a silver lining in that his stablemate Mark Thompson will step into the breech to face Vuma. Mark, called the ‘KO Kid' by Jamie, recently told BBN that he is finding it hard luring British fighters into the ring with him and one can understand why. Thompson has been doing what only the very brightest prospects do in stopping six of his eleven opponents before the final bell. Mark is stepping up in weight, up in class and up to the plate to face-off against Vuma for the WBC International title. BBN caught-up with Mark Thompson and Alex Matvienko, who fights Martin Marshall on the same bill, to chat about their upcoming fights, as well as getting Jamie's thoughts on his career (Note: BBN's conversations with Jamie came before the Vuma cancellation). Uniquely, amongst the closed, sometimes backbiting, backdrop of Manchester boxing Jamie is universally respected. Only one grumble arises when you speak about Jamie in the other gyms and that grouse usually takes on a variation of the following gripe: How long does Jamie have to wait for his step-up too the highest level? Jamie's Manager, Steve Wood, has recently tried to lure Sechew Powell to these shores only for the American to show feet of clay. Attempts to annex the European title have also fallen short leaving the very real possibility that Jamie, like his hero Michael Brodie, may be left to wither on the vine as he waits for his chance. By persisting on his winning road Jamie has done his stint, it is now a case of keeping himself focussed for when the big fight comes along. As Jamie explained to BBN he is a fighter keenly aware of the passage of time. JM: ‘Yeah, it has been frustrating for the past few years. I think I should have been fighting for a European title at least eighteen months ago but for one reason or another it has not happened.' ‘I think I'm the mandatory now so whoever wins the vacant title should have to fight me in the next six-months.' I asked Jamie if he ever worries about withering on the vine as he awaits his chance. JM: ‘Course, that's it exactly. With the way I fight it never spells-out a long career so obviously I need to get these fights now before I start to go downhill in my thirties. I'm confident that I should be getting these fights soon and another couple of wins should get me in for a shot.' ‘I'm number ten with the WBC now and another win could bump me up further. Then if Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather do retire I could go up another few places…I could (then) be close to a final eliminator.' ‘The division is wide-open right now. (Kasim) Ouma is right up there and so is (Sergio) Martinez who I've mentioned a few times to you now. There is no one who really stands-out and I would give myself a chance against any of them. I would be prepared to go abroad and do it as well.' So Ouma in American would suit you if it could be made? JM: ‘I'd take a fight in America with Ouma yeah; I'd bite their hand off for that. Ouma would be a good yardstick and I've always been confident that I could beat him.' ‘As long as I keep winning they can't not give me a shot. That's what I've been doing for the last three years and I'm nearly there now, its not too long away.' So for the time being, for Jamie, it is a case of having tunnel vision and winning the fights in the hope his shot will come. JM: ‘Exactly. I've got a lot of stuff inspiring me to do it, not just my own reasons. I was by myself in the past but now I've got a family and little kids to think off.' ‘As much as I want to win titles I want to get the money that will secure my family for the future. I don't just want to be sitting around with my thumb up my arse waiting for the fights to come along.' BBN: Is there also a desire to continue prove to yourself, as you did against Lujuan, that you belong in the higher class? JM: ‘Yeah. Obviously in my own head I think I can do it (go in with international-level fighters and win easily) but until you do it you don't know you can do it…I know now.' There is a sense that the time to step right up is fast approaching for Jamie. Injury problems have plagued him in the past and it would be hard on him if they curtailed his charge just as it is gathering pace. Promoter Frank Maloney, backed by Sky, needs to step it up with Jamie in much the way he has done with David Haye. Jamie is equally as deserving of a shot at a title, or at least a fight abroad that can raise his profile. These fights, for genuine titles, are just the type of fights Sky and the likes of Maloney said they would deliver to the fighters and if there is a queue surely Moore is right near the top of it. BBN was back in the gym the next day as Jamie sparred four competitive rounds with Mark Thompson. Sparring with Jamie, one presumes, is a sink or swim experience and, as both men worked away, BBN was struck by the fact that Mark can box as well as bang. At this point it all boded well for the two boxers, unfortunately word reached BBN shortly after that Jamie was out of the Vuma fight. Despite the short notice and the step-up in weight, plus class, Mark Thompson did not hesitate about stepping into the breach to fight Vuma. Mark Thompson: ‘It is a bit of a turn-up yeah. I feel good about the (Vuma) fight. I was a bit nervous at first. I only found out over a week ago and as it has got closer and closer I am feeling good and feeling ready for it.' BBN: Have you had a chance to look at Vuma? MT: ‘Yes, I got the tape a few days ago. He looks good, stylish and cute but on the day itself it is a case of wants it the most.' BBN: You talked the other day about how hard it is to get fights at the British level so will this open-up a few new doors for you? MT: ‘Hopefully yes. It will open everything up for me. At this stage it is a good belt I'm fighting for so it could give me a chance at an eliminator for the British title.' BBN: Obviously you have had good preparation; does sparring with someone like Jamie help you plan for this fight? MT: ‘Yeah, I'm having to move up a weight (from welterweight) to take the fight but I've been sparring with Jamie and other people at that weight anyway so I think I'll be alright and the sparring has done me a world of good.' BBN: You are known as a banger but can box a bit also; will you look to mix things-up in this fight? MT: ‘That is a possibility but a lot depends on how Vuma comes out as well. If he comes out boxing I'll fight him and if he comes out fighting I'll box him so it depends on what he wants to do and he likes to do a bit of both.' ‘He looks like he falls for left hooks and I have a good left hook. He looks like a bit of a counter puncher. He'll wait for you. I don't know if he is a banger but he has stopped thirteen fighters so far so he must be a hard puncher.' BBN: You came into the professional ranks with only a bit of amateur experience didn't you? MT: ‘I had twenty-one fights and won seventeen. I was finding it hard in the amateur game and felt I was winning the fights I lost…I would not warm-up until the later rounds. I don't like the shorter rounds either so thought I'd step-up to the pros and I've enjoyed it.' ‘I've done eight rounds once before (against Alexander Matviechuk) and I was ill before that fight. I know I'm fit enough, I've done all the preparation leading up to this so I think I can produce it on the night.' BBN: Jamie came in as a sub in the first Jones fight so is that something that can inspire you? MT: ‘Yeah. Everything happens for a reason and it is a big opportunity. Hopefully this has happened for a good reason. I'm on Sky live and as long as I go in and do what I've been doing I should be alright.' ‘Everything is perfect. Sparring has gone well, I've had no injuries, no pulls and no problems. I wanted to fight for a British Masters title anyway so have been training for ten-round fights and this is an opportunity for me.' So what about the fight itself? Vuma was going to be a solid test for Jamie so logic supposes that the man from South Africa may have too much for Mark. Vuma went the distance with Reda Zam Zam before going down to a majority decision. Since then Zam Zam was completely destroyed by Carlos Donquiz in a single round. As Mark says everything happens for a reason, this writer believes that at certain moments in life destiny steps in and guides you to where you want to go. Mark, if he paces himself well in the fight, could very well emulate his stablemate Jamie Moore in stepping-up at late notice to win his fist professional title. Coda: Alex Matvienko Predicts a Riot Alex Matvienko was in the gym preparing for his own fight on Friday night. Alex takes on Martin Marshall less than two-weeks after his last fight; a point's win over the eccentric Ronnie Daniels in the same Wigan venue. Alex got into boxing at the age of sixteen. After a short amateur career, twenty wins out of thirty-seven fights, he entered the professional ranks. Matvienko is a regular at many of the local boxing shows; he boxes often and has had a chance to develop on the VIP shows. As Alex explained to BBN the proximity of his fights, coupled with his work with Humphrey Harrison in the gym, is seeing him improve with every bout. Alex Matvienko: ‘My training for this one has been going brilliantly. I've boxed only recently (and) I have jumped straight back into training (so) I am really fit. It is spot-on.' BBN: What did you make of Daniels in that last fight? (Daniels seemed more interested in clowning than fighting) AM: ‘I just thought it was really comical. I buzzed off it. It is a learning experience. You get these guys looking for a payday and they might throw the odd big bomb so you've got to be careful.' ‘His clowning was another learning curve. It didn't really distract me. I joined in a little bit but that showed how relaxed I was. If I was annoyed I'd have been rushing in but the last thing I'd want to do is clash heads or get an hand injury ahead of this fight.' BBN: Does fighting regularly give you a chance to work on different things in each fight? AM: ‘Definitely. A lot of the time I was just going in there to try and knock people out but that time (Daniels) I just went in there to box a little bit and work on my jab.' ‘When I fought Ryan Ashworth I caught him in the first round with a good double-jab right hand and I just went in for the kill…then I carried on for the kill for four rounds and neglected my jab. I thought ‘in my next fight I'm going to work everything off my jab' and that's what I did.' BBN: Once you move up in class and guys come at you a bit more will the knockouts come more freely? AM: ‘It is all different isn't it. When you go looking for the knockout I don't think it comes but when you just go and catch someone with a combination you tend to find knockouts. I am tending to look for the knockouts too much and opponents are tending to catch me as I'm winding the big shots up.' BBN: So what are you expecting this Friday? AM: ‘I'm expecting a good fight. I'm hoping to cut the ring off and catch up with him sometime in the fight. He is a tall boxer so he will be working a lot off his left hand and I've got to get my counters off and make sure the fans enjoy it.' ‘Everyone says I'm good and certain people are nicknaming me the ‘one-man riot' so I'm definitely going to be exciting. Get your popcorn ready and enjoy the fight.' Photos: Loura Conerney

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