One of Britain’s most popular fighters, Jamie Moore, mounted a supercharged performance this past Friday, taking the vacant European light middleweight title in riveting fashion with a third round knockout of former IBF welterweight champion Michele Piccirillo at Robin Park Arena in Wigan, England on a Frank Maloney promotion televised live by Sky Sports.
Piccirillo bravely tried to keep the former British champion at bay but the Italian’s powershots just bounced off the aggressive Manchester icon and Moore punished Piccirillo as world champions such as Ricardo Mayorga and Vernon Forrest could not.
Displaying striking handspeed and an unerring sense of accuracy, Moore ripped his rival with piercing body shots that brought down Piccirillo’s guard and the Italian was soon hammered by the surprising quickness of Moore’s southpaw lead left hands.
A knockdown was ruled in the second when Piccirillo tripped but a Moore bodyshot, left to the jaw combination hurt and put down the Italian in the third before Moore finished the job with a perfect left hand liver shot that ended the bout at 2:15 of the round.
Jamie Moore wins the European Light Middleweight Champion and sees his record to 31-3 (22), while Piccirillo falls to 50-5 (29).
In the chief support bout, 2008 Olympic Bronze Medallist Darren Sutherland, 2-0 (2), continued to expertly pound his way through journeyman opposition as the Dublin star fully battered Siarhei Navarka, 6-23 (1), of Belarus enroute to a third round stoppage.
Middleweight Martin Murray, 13-0 (4), stopped Georgian import Mikheil Khucishvili, 11-5-2 (4), in the fourth of a scheduled six while Welsh bantamweight Matthew Edmonds, 10-2 (2), widely outpointed another Georgian, Kakhaber Avetisian, 10-9-1 (1), after six rounds.
Super feather prospect Jonathan Kays, 7-1 (2), won on points after six rounds despite finding himself on the canvas earlier against Barrington Brown, 5-4-2 (2).
Light middleweight Alex Matvienko, 13-1-2 (4), won on points against Paul Royston, 30-3 (2), after six frames while Karl Place, 4-0 (1), did the same against tough workhorse Baz Carey, 11-41-4 (3), after four rounds at light welter.
Towering light middle Jack Arnfield, 9-0 (3), kept a perfect record by posting a four round points verdict over Dee Mitchell, 8-4 (2), while welter Rick Godding, 6-0 (0), also retained a pristine resume by outpointing Kristian Laight, 6-55-5 (0), over four.
Travis Dickinson had a tricky pro debut at light heavyweight, winning a four rounder on points while sustaining a cut against another debutante, Patrick Mendys, who was deducted a point in the third for having lost his gumshield three times.
Frank Maloney Promotions returns on Friday, March 20 when Ian Napa defends the Bantamweight Championship of Europe against former French titlist Malik Bouziane while British super flyweight champion Lee Haskins puts his title at risk against Commonwealth bantamweight kingpin Jason Booth at Newham Leisure Centre in London, England.
Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS2 at 10PM.
TOBIAS JOINS UNCLE MAC ON KHAN-BARRERA CARD
If Tobias Webb needs a few words of advice before his debut next weekend he can call on his uncle – former WBO cruiserweight world champion Enzo Maccarinelli.
The 19-year-old amateur star makes his professional bow at the M.E.N Arena on March 14, on the undercard of the Amir Khan-Marco Antonio Barrera showdown, with Uncle Enzo part of the headline attraction of the show when he takes on Ola Afolabi for the Interim WBO title
And the hard-hitting super-middleweight is being backed for glory by his fellow Welshman.
“This boy can really fight,” said Maccarinelli. “I think punching hard runs in the family because he’s even more of a knockout artist than I am.
“He’s worth keeping an eye on because he’s going to be something special.
“He did well as an amateur, and if hadn’t been for politics, would have got more recognition than he did.
“Tobias went to the amateur world championships in 2007 but it was more as a banger than a slick boxer, and he didn’t get too far.
“But now he’s turned into a boxer as well.
“He’s always had the punch, but in the last year or so he’s really developed the skills to go with it. He’s the complete package.”
Webb, who like Enzo comes from Swansea, may move to Birmingham or London to further his ring education, but is currently basing himself in South Wales.
“I can’t wait for my professional debut,” he said. “I’ve just been waiting on my medicals these last few days, and now they’ve finally come through.
“Watching my uncle Enzo fight as I’ve been growing up has been a real inspiration, and I’ve been lucky enough to work with him in the gym and some of the other lads down here who have done really well.
“We’ve had great success with super-middleweights in Wales – and hopefully I can continue that.
“I loved being an amateur and boxing around the world, but my heart has always been set on the pro game because it suits my style perfectly.”
Tickets, priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150, £200 and £300, are available from the following outlets:
See Tickets
0871 220 0260
www.seetickets.com
Ticketline
0844 888 9991
www.ticketline.co.uk
M.E.N Arena
0844 847 8000
www.men-arena.com
Amir Khan Boxing
01204 535 332
07817 559 450
www.amirkhan-boxing.com
***PAY PER VIEW DETAILS***
Amir Khan v Marco Antonio Barrera is live on Sky Box Office and in high definition on Sky Box Office HD on Saturday 14 March from 9pm. The bill also includes Nicky Cook v Roman Martinez and Enzo Maccarinelli v Ola Afolabi . To order ‘Coming of Age’, a night of live boxing call: 08442 410 888
Integrated Sports is distributing three 12-round championship bouts featured on the “Khan-Barrera” pay-per-view card, presented by Frank Warren, in North America for live viewing at 4 PM/ET – 1 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice, Shaw Cable, Star Choice and Bell TV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. Veteran blow-by-blow announcer Ian Darke and color analyst, former WBC lightweight champion Jim Watt, will be calling the action from ringside for Sky Box Office and Integrated Sports PPV.
***FIGHT CARD***
FRANK WARREN In Association With DON KING
PROUDLY PRESENT
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2009
M.E.N ARENA, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND
THE WBA INTERNATIONAL AND VACANT WBO INTERCONTINENTAL LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 9st 9lb (135lb)
AMIR KHAN (Bolton, England) vs. MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA (Mexico City, Mexico)
THE INTERIM WBO CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 14st 4lb (200lb)
ENZO MACCARINELLI (Swansea, Wales) vs. OLA AFOLABI (California, USA)
THE WBO SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 9st 4lb (130lb)
NICKY COOK (Dagenham, England) vs. ROMAN MARTINEZ (Puerto Rico)
THE COMMONWEALTH LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 11st (154lb)
BRADLEY PRYCE (Newbridge, Wales) vs. MATTHEW HALL (Manchester, England)
THE VACANT WBA INTERNATIONAL SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 12st (168lb)
PAUL SMITH (Liverpool, England) vs. RASHID MATUMLA (Tanzania)
8 X 3 Minute Rounds International Cruiserweight Championship
DENNIS LEBEDEV (Moscow, Russia) vs. MATHEW ELLIS (Blackpool, England)
8 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest
DENTON VASSELL (Manchester, England) vs. EDDIE CORCORAN (Wembley, London)
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Featherweight Contest
STEPHEN BELL (Manchester, England) vs. YOUSEFF AL HAMIDI (Dewbury, England)
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
ANTHONY CROLLA (Manchester, England) vs. CARL ALLEN (Wolverhampton, England)
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Light-Welterweight Contest
LIAM SMITH (Liverpool, England) vs. KEVIN McCAULEY (Stourbridge, England)
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Bantamweight Contest
CRAIG LYON (St Helens, England) vs. TBA
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Middleweight Contest
TOBIAS WEBB – Pro Debut (Swansea, Wales) vs. TBA
Rhodes: “Small will be fighting a mirror that hits back”
British light-middleweight champion Ryan Rhodes admits he gains little from beating Anthony Small on March 28, but remains eager to shut the mouth of his London-based challenger at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
Since both agreeing to the bout over Christmas, a war of words has ensued, with Small accusing Rhodes of previously ducking him. Eager to prove a point on March 28, Rhodes’ fire has been ignited.
“I’m defending my British title and that’s great, but I’m not really gaining much else from taking this fight,” admits Rhodes, 41-4 (27 KO). “I’m rated higher than Small in the British, Commonwealth, European and world rankings. I won’t move any higher from beating someone like Small. Shutting his mouth up is all the motivation I need to take this fight.”
Rhodes discovered the extent of Small’s ‘mouth’ in January when the pair met at a Liverpool press conference to announce their contest.
“I expected it (Small’s vocal outburst),” says Rhodes. “It wasn’t a shock to me. Everything he brings to the table is stuff I’ve seen before. His actions, his words and his attitude are nothing new to me. I was brought up with Naz (Naseem Hamed) and his press conferences, so Small’s outbursts don’t faze me one bit. He can talk all he likes.
“In his mind he has to beat you with words first. Then he can build his confidence up and hopefully beat you in the ring.
“The only two fighters he’s faced who weren’t fazed by him and were supposed to give him a good fight – Walter Wright and Bradley Pryce – both gave him more than he could handle. Wright had Small out on his feet in the eighth round, and would have knocked him out in a 10-rounder. Then Pryce did knock him out when the going got tough.
“I’m his third genuine test and it’s going to be third time unlucky for him.”
Boasting an edge in experience, Rhodes – a former two-time British light-middleweight champion and two-time WBO middleweight title challenger – believes his knowledge of his own unorthodox style will ultimately win the day.
Both possessing slick, rangy, switch-hitting styles, Rhodes and Small appear to be cut from the same cloth. Crucially, Rhodes has mastered his style since February 1995, the night he turned pro
“I’ve trained and sparred in gyms where it’s basically like fighting yourself in a mirror,” adds the 32-year-old. “I’ve sparred with countless kids who do exactly the same as I do. It’s difficult dealing with a style like mine.
“The thing is, Small’s never sparred or boxed anyone that has a style like him. I’m the first fighter to ever give Small a taste of his own medicine. On March 28 he’s going to be shadowboxing in a mirror and getting hit and hit hard. Let’s see how he likes it.”
Where Rhodes boasts knowledge and experience, Small relies on exuberance and swagger. Though similar in fighting style, Rhodes believes his better grounding in reality may prove key on March 28.
“He’s (Small) mentioned Herol Graham fighting Mike McCallum and Naz (Naseem Hamed) fighting Marco Antonio Barrera as examples of how he’s going to beat me,” continues Rhodes. “If he’s watching those fights it suits me down to the ground. I don’t think I fight anything like Naz did or anything like Herol did. One thing’s certain; Small isn’t McCallum or Barrera.
“He thinks he fights like Roy Jones and ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard. I asked everyone in the room at the press conference whether that was true and not one person agreed with him. What he sees in the mirror I just don’t know.”
*** Ryan Rhodes’ British title showdown with Anthony Small is the co-main event at HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, on March 28. Also featured on the stacked card is local lad Tony Dodson’s British title challenge against champion Brian Magee, as well as the English title clash between Tony Quigley and Paul David and the British title eliminator between John Watson and Martin Gethin.
*** To purchase tickets to HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ visit www.accliverpool.com or call 0844 8000 400.