Moffett wants to steal Keeler’s thunder on August 30 card
PAUL Moffett doesn’t just want to fight Luke Keeler in the National Stadium on August 30 he says he needs to trade leather with the Dubliner.
The 30 year old has been in boxing limbo since he suffered a controversial six round defeat to former European champion Kerry Hope.
That performance made the Down puncher high risk, but the result means a bout with him remains low reward. Thus the 30 year old has struggled to tie down any opponents and certainly not the kind that can help him progress.
So in order to get the chance to fulfill his potential, Moffett wants the chance to beat fellow Irish middleweight Luke Keeler live on Sky Sports.
The former European semi pro Champion is aware Matchroom and Eddie Hearn have heard good things about Keeler and will use the Matthew Macklin undercard to get a close up look of the undefeated Dublin middleweight. However, Moffett wants to spoil ‘Cool Hand Luke’s’ party and ensure he is the one who catches Hearn’s eye- and has left his job to ensure he does just that.
“Career wise I’m very frustrated since the Hope fight. Since that night I’ve had four fights fall through all because I performed so well at short notice against a fighter of Kerry’s caliber,” Moffett told Irish-boxing.com.
“I’ve been ticking over just hoping for something to come along and I hope that I get this fight with Keeler. I’ve left my job today to fully concentrate on my career. The plan is to train the way I need. It maybe the stupidest thing I’ve done, but hopefully not,” he added before discussing a possible Keeler bout.
“I think it has the makings to b a great fight. He’s a good fighter. I have no doubt it will be tough fight, but it is a fight I really want and to be honest I really need.”
Moffett is tricky operator, has performed well at late notice and is a foe Keeler might not need at this stage in his career. Moffett would agree that there is a high risk low reward element to him, but claims Keeler is of similar stock, a fighter eager to be tested and to progress.
“I got a weeks notice for the Hope fight. I had to take of ridiculous weight in the week building up to that fight and I pushed him all the way. The way I am training now if we would have fought he wouldn’t have lasted, honestly! Then Sky talked about the short notice so it made people avoid me.
“It is definitley a dangerous fight for Luke. He will be aware of that, but he seems to be a bit like myself, he wants tests, these challenges and wants to push on. I admire him for that, but come fight night its about fighting. I will be super confident come fight night, hopefully it gets made now.”
