By Nate Anderson: Light middleweight Jamie Moore (31-3, 22 KOs) overpowered former IBF welterweight champion Michele Piccirillo (50-5, 29 KOs) tonight, knocking him down three times en route to stopping him in the 3rd round of a scheduled 12-round bout for the vacant EBU (European) light middleweight title at Robin Park Centre, Wigan, Lancashire. Moore, delivered a perfect left hook to the midsection of Piccirillo in the 3rd round, knocking Piccirillo down.
He never even tried to get up as he was in too much pain and remaining clinging to the top ropes with both hands while resting on his knees and trying to get some air back into his body. Referee Robin Dolpierre then officially stopped the fight at 2:15 of the 3rd. Besides that knockdown, Moore also dropped Piccirillo twice in the 2nd round.
Piccirillo, now 39, had problems from the start of the fight, unable to keep a swarming Moore off of him for any length of time. Piccirillo attempted to fight off Moore’s fierce charges with his jab but it was no use as Moore walked right through his jabs and was able to get to him to land big hooks to the body and head. Piccirillo circled the ring continuously, changing directions every so often but it was not effective in slowing down the southpaw Moore for any length of time.
Moore quickly discovered that he could land with power shots both on the outside and inside, finding success with almost every punch he threw at him. In the meantime, Piccirillo mostly was limited to an occasional jab. Moore stalked Piccirillo all around the ring, using torso movement to dodge the stray jabs that Piccirillo would flick out weakly from time to time.
In the last minute of the round, Moore landed a huge left hand to the head of Piccirillo. A little while later, Moore hurt Piccirillo with a left to the midsection , sending him into a full retreat. Luckily for Piccirillo, the round ended seconds later before Moore could capitalize on the situation.
In the 2nd round, Moore came right after Piccirillo at the start of the round and greeted him with left hands and right uppercuts to the head. Piccirillo then retreated to the ropes where he was dropped by a right hand to the side of the head. It seemed more like a shove than a clean shot but the referee missed it. Moore continued to dominate the rest of the round throwing power shots and jabs. Piccirillo was now hardly throwing anything back in his own defense.
Late in the round, Moore dropped Piccirillo again, this time with a couple of left hooks to the head and then a short right. Piccirillo got up and continued getting hammered with lefts and rights for the remainder of the round as Moore stalked him around the ring and punished him with big shots.
Early in the 3rd, Moore hurt Piccirillo with a right to the head followed by a right to the midsection. Piccirillo moved laterally around the ring trying to buy some time. However, Moore caught up to him again a short while later and staggered him with a left to the head. Piccirillo then attempted to escape along the ropes but was nailed by a left to the midsection, the punch causing Piccirillo to turn his back on Moore and sink to the canvas in the corner. Piccirillo never even attempted to get up and the fight was immediately stopped by the referee at 2:15 of the round.
“I felt so strong tonight,” Moore said after the fight. “I’ve been aching to move up a level. I’ve been world class for the past two years. I’m ready for a world title fight. Bring it on.”
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