Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
Ex-champ may return following 2010 retirement
Former British, Commonwealth and European light-middleweight
title holder and now Sky pundit Jamie Moore has told WBN that he is mulling
over a return to boxing after almost two and a half years away from the sport.
The 33 year-old retired in April 2010 as back-to-back losses
to Ryan Rhodes and Siarhei Khomitski ended his world title dream and the
Salford fighter is now assessing his fitness ahead of the possible reigniting of
his ring career.
“Yes, I have been considering coming out of retirement,”
Moore exclusively told World Boxing News.
“I've been keeping myself in shape to do the training
sections for Sky and I feel good so I'm training harder to see if I still
feel the same and my old injuries don't resurface.
“In my last fight (against Khomitski) I couldn’t have had
more things against me than I did, with injuries and struggling with weight, plus
mentally I wasn’t there. So I’d like the chance to finish on a better note, but
only if I feel like I'm at least as good as I was.
“I don't want to have any regrets or thoughts of ‘I wonder
what would have happened if I'd have fought again while I was still young
enough and felt good’ and this way I'll know either way.”
Moore’s comments come on the back of rumours that big pal
Ricky Hatton, who is also 33, is considering a return to the ring in November
and when asked if a first outing since 2010 could happen on the undercard, the
southpaw stated: “I know there's a lot of speculation about Rick fighting again
because he's lost a lot of weight, but I really don't know if he will so I
haven't even thought about the possibility of fighting on his bill or when it
would be - but it would be fun!”
“I'm not sure if Ricky will fight again or not, but I think
it's entirely his choice and if he really wants to do it then he should,” Moore
continued.
“People say he was on the slide but he put in a great
performance against Malignaggi before the Pacquiao fight and I know he lost
badly against him, but let's have it right - he's only lost to the two best
fighters of our generation and he won't do it unless he feels capable of boxing
at the level he was. So if he's still got it then why not?”
With his career beginning in 1999, Moore claimed his first
domestic title in 2003, before becoming one of Britain’s most entertaining
fighters of the decade and his 2009 battle with the recently-retired Ryan Rhodes will forever
be fondly remembered by UK fans.
A 2006 war with former world middleweight title challenger Matthew
Macklin, who Moore rates as his toughest opponent, will also live long in the
memory and the Mancunian, who ended with a record of 32-5 with 23 stoppages, could now return in the same weight-class as
the Irishman.
“If I fight again it will probably be at middle, but I'm
lighter now (12st 7lb) than I was in between fights (which is obviously my own
fault for being greedy!) and I have been eating whatever I want.
“So depending on how the weight came off, I would consider doing
light middleweight (154lbs) again IF I decide to fight!”
Ever the consummate professional, Moore had some encouraging words
for his old rival Rhodes, who tearfully announcement last week at that he would
hang up his gloves at the age of 35 after a successful 52-fight career.
“I understand Ryan's reasoning for retiring, in that it will
take him a while to get back to the level he wants to box at and he'll probably
be too old by then so he's probably made the right decision.
“I would imagine he wouldn't be able to motivate himself for
smaller fights now and I wish him all the best in whatever he chooses to do
from now on, he's a top, top lad.”