Jamie Moore talks about his career and life outside the ropes

By Boxing News - 11/20/2011 - Comments

Image: Jamie Moore talks about his career and life outside the ropesBy Ian Aldous: Jamie Moore (32-5) retired from boxing last year after a very successful career that saw him claim British, Commonwealth and European championships in the light-middleweight division. This week Jamie took the time to talk with me about his career and life after boxing.

First of all, how is life treating you after your successful 11-year professional career in the sport?

JM “Yeah, I’m over the moon with how it’s gone so far. I’m about 18 months into it now and obviously I’ve got plenty of work with Sky (television) and my personal training and I distribute CNP supplements to boxing gyms. The Sky work is the icing on the cake and it’s keeping me involved in boxing. I think that’s the main reason why I’ve not concentrated on fighting again because I’m still involved with boxing in a big way.”

In September 2006, you stopped Matthew Macklin (KO win rd.10) in what was widely regarded as the domestic fight of the year. Do you look at this fight as the highlight of your career?

JM “Definitely. A big reason why I got into boxing was when I used to love watching it with my dad and I used to love watching the exciting fighters, Nigel Benn and those sorts of fighters, Marvin Hagler. People with that sort of attitude and mentality. I thought, one day I can be involved in fights like that with people walking away and saying what a great fight that was. I’ve had fights of the year in an 11-year career. I only fell short of a World title shot; I was British, Commonwealth and European (champion). I achieved a lot more than I ever thought I would have done.”

During your reign as European light-middleweight champion in 2009, how confident were you that you’d go on to fight for a World championship and why do you think it didn’t happen?

JM “To be honest with you, I’d waited that long for a European title shot, I thought it was nailed-on that I’d get a World title shot. I’m not saying it was (Frank) Maloney’s fault 100%, but in my mind I should have had a World title shot and he didn’t want me to. He was saying to me that I’m that close to being ranked No.2 or No.3 by the WBC that I could be mandatory. When I look back at it now, I wish I’d have said no, I wasn’t under promotional contract with him, so I could’ve walked away and gone to America. I think Sergio Martinez was WBC champion at the time; I could’ve spoken to Lou Dibella and gone to America. There are many things I could’ve done to get a World title shot. I never demanded a shot and just went with the flow.”

Your October 2009 European championship defence and WBC light-middleweight title eliminator against Ryan Rhodes (TKO loss rd. 7) was another epic domestic fight. How much did this fight take out of you and do you now wish that you’d called it a day immediately after this fight?

JM “No, not at all. I don’t regret doing my last fight (end of 6th round retirement loss to Siarhei Khomitski). In a way, that made me think that enough is enough. I’m a big believer in everything happens for a reason and I am where I am today because of what happened in my career. Hindsight is a great thing and I should have moved up to middleweight three years before I had my last fight, maybe even super-middleweight. I know I wouldn’t have won the European title at light-middleweight but who’s to say I wouldn’t have gone on to bigger and better things at middleweight.”

That fight eventually led to Ryan Rhodes facing Saul Alvarez for the WBC light-middleweight championship. What were your thoughts on the fight?

JM “I thought Ryan gave a good account of himself. I think Alvarez is gonna turn into something special. In time, Ryan’s performance will be held in higher esteem. He went out there and did the best that he could but as I say I think Alvarez is something very special.”



Comments are closed.