Classic Irish Boxing:Moore and Macklin US wins
Feature: Classic Irish boxing September 2005
Matthew Macklin and James Moore got a taste of pro boxing in the U.S. for the first time last night and both found it very much to their liking. While Macklin was having his fifteenth professional outing in Atlantic City Moore was making his pro debut in New York.
Both men recorded early wins with referees saving their opponents from further punishment in both cases. Macklin who was crowned Irish middleweight champion in May following an impressive win over Michael Monaghan was in the U.S. to launch his campaign for a fight with New York based Irishman John Duddy.
His opponent Leo Laudat has been despatched in a round by Duddy in 2003 although the Derry native had to pick himself off the floor before turning the tables on Laudat. There were no such dramas for Macklin but it did take him a couple of rounds longer than Duddy to get rid of Laudat.
The Tennessee born journeyman was eventually stopped on his feet in the third round with the referee intervening on his behalf. The win improves Macklin’s record to 14 wins (9 KOs) and one defeat. A first defence of his Irish title against John Humphrey is pencilled in for October 8th in Dublin. After that Macklin says he wants a shot at reigning British light middleweight champion Jamie Moore. With Humphrey and Moore now in Macklin’s sights and Duddy’s stock continuing to rise in the U.S. a match between them still looks to be some way down the road.
A couple of hours drive north of Atlantic City James Moore announced his arrival in the pros with an impressive second round stoppage win over Gabriel Garcia. The Arklow man was featuring in a four round light middleweight contest on a Lou Di Bella promotion in Manhattan.
Moore wasted no time in adjusting to the pro ranks dropping Garcia three times en route to victory. When the 27-yaer-old floored the Ecuadorian for the third time referee Steve Smoger waved the fight off just before the half way point in the second round.
Moore is managed by the New York based McLoughlin brothers who also look after the aforementioned Duddy. Moore had been sparring with Duddy and world rated light welterweight Paulie Malignaggi in the build up to his debut. Like Duddy he is trained by Harry Keitt at the Irish Ropes Gym in Queens.
