by James Slater – Jamie Moore, one of the most exciting British fighters of the past ten years or so, has retired at the age of 31. The man from Salford, Manchester was beaten in his last two outings, and after a long and largely fruitful pro career the light-middleweight southpaw has officially announced he is to box no more. “It is with great sadness and regret that I am announcing my retirement from the sport I love,” Moore said in his official statement. “In the last three years I have had three letters from the Boxing Board of Control declaring that there had been a slight change in my brain scan although I was medically fit to box..
“After receiving the third letter recently I decided to seek an independent opinion and was advised that I should retire. That means it is time to move on in life and pack away my gloves and gumshield for good.
“I retire with my head held high knowing I contested some of the best fights ever witnessed in a British ring.”
Jamie certainly did give British boxing some truly great fights, too. Having turned pro in October of 1999, Moore romped to a straight 12 wins, before losing and giving us a thriller at the same time. After sending Scott Dixon to the canvas in the 3rd-round of their WBU Intercontinental 154-pound title fight, Moore, then aged just 20, was TKO’d in the 5th-round.
Undeterred, the Salford man fought again six months later and proceeded to win a further eight bouts – during which time he won the British and Commonwealth titles; with wins over good fighters such as Michael Jones (who Moore would have a three-fight series with) and Andrew Facey.
Then, in 2004, Moore suffered back-to-back defeats. Losing his Commonwealth belt via a 3rd-round TKO to Ossie Duran in June (when a freak hip injury forced Moore to retire) and then losing his British title to arch-rival Jones (when Jamie was controversially DQ’d for hitting on the break, also in the 3rd-round).
Moore would soon avenge the Jones loss in style!
Giving us the first real classic of his colourful career, Moore met Jones in a July 2005 rubber-match. Downed twice in the 3rd-round and looking in bad shape, Moore came roaring back and put Jones down twice in the 5th, before getting the breathtaking stoppage in the 6th-round of one of the British fights of the year.
Now firmly known and respected by the paying fans as a genuine crowd-pleaser, Moore went from strength to strength.
Three decent wins followed, before Moore gave us the fight he is probably destined to be best remembered for – his epic 10th-round winning war with Matthew Macklin. Much has been written about this sensational fight, what with its switches of momentum and its savage pace; but to do the bout justice, it must be seen – so check it out now on YouTube!
Sadly unable to get himself a world title shot, Moore continued to defend his British belt; before winning the European title in impressive fashion.
Smashing the experienced former world champion Michele Piccirillo to defeat inside three-rounds in March of 2009, Moore really turned heads. Defending the belt in equally impressive fashion a mere two months later, when he stopped Roman Dzhuman inside two-rounds, Moore looked to be at his peak. Then, with his tough career and number of wars evidently having caught up with him, he was beaten, in yet another thriller, by fellow lefty Ryan Rhodes. Stopped in the 7th-round of another fight of the year candidate, Moore was devastated.
Trying his luck up at middleweight on the recent April 3rd Haye-Ruiz card, Jamie was shocked by little-known Belarusian Sergey Khomitski; being forced to retire on his stool after the 6th-round.
There was talk afterwards that Moore would maybe try his hand up at 168-pounds, but upon reflection, Jamie has clearly realised that the tank is empty.
British boxing will miss him, but hopefully the former British, Commonwealth and European king will enjoy a happy and contented retirement.
Jamie Moore: Final record – 32-5(23)