Get it on

23 October 2008 – by Cormac Campbell

Irish light-middleweight star James Moore (16-1 10KO) has told Irish-boxing.com that he wants a fight with former amateur rival Henry Coyle.

Chicago based Coyle (8-1 8KO), who makes his Irish debut on November 15 in Castlebar, recently talked up the possibility of such a contest.

Id fight James Moore in the morning, he said. I honestly believe that would be such a punishing fight that it would be a career ending fight for the loser but I can only see one winner.

Coyle defeated the odds and 2001 World bronze medalist Moore in the 2004 National Senior Finals but the New York based Wicklowman Moore is adamant that a repeat wont happen in the professional ring.

It’s not so much rivalry as I just want to set the record straight and show that it was just a bad night for me, he said.

I admit I was complacent in the 2004 final and was in Russia with the High Performance team when I should have been at home training.

Since then both fighters have based themselves in the United States, but Moore believes Ireland could be the ideal location for such a high profile a domestic clash.

I would like the fight to be in the National Stadium as it would be fair for both sets of fans. It would be nice for it to be in the Garden around St. Patrick’s day but beating Henry Coyle won’t get me any closer to a world title, so that date will be a bigger fight for me.

Moore has no doubt that he would prevail in such a contest.

Henry is a decent club fighter, he comes to fight and keeps his fans happy. I will win this fight because I am hungry and am technically a better fighter. I’ve been here in America for 4 years learning my trade and fighting with guys who have been in with world champions. JC Candelo who fought Verno Phillips, Kassim Ouma and Winky Wright. Lloyd Joseph who lost a close fight to Joshua Clotty. I beat both these guys comfortably and Henry has only fought 1 guy with a winning record. He talks a good fight but he won’t take the fight because he knows what the result will be. If I wasn’t injured I’d go to Mayo and put a end to this once and for all in November.

I’m in the gym every day but still just using my left hand, I can’t wait to fight again and am very hopeful to get a fight before Christmas. I damaged ligaments in my hand and it seems to be healing well. You will see me fighting back in Ireland in the next 6 to 9 months.