— Leon Moore
Leon Moore has never been perceived to be the boastful type of boxer simply because he lets his fists do the talking.
However, Moore is stepping out of his shell for his clash against Colombian Reynaldo Lopez for the vacant North American Boxing Association (NABA) Bantamweight title; the World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin and the Caribbean bantamweight titles on September 26 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall declaring that he is hungry for a world title.
The Guyanese will also be putting his WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) bantamweight title on the line.
Initially Moore was down to face another Colombian, Mauricio Pastrana.
Pastrana it has been reported has pulled out of the clash in fear of losing and tarnishing his reputation.
He has opted for a fight against an opponent he has a greater chance of defeating. He should also get a bigger purse.
Speaking with Stabroek Sports yesterday, Moore said he really doesn’t care who it is, he is ready to fight since he believes the time is now for him to step closer to a world title.
“The only difference is that I would now have to switch from fighting an orthodox fighter to a southpaw, but other than that, send Lopez, it really doesn’t make a difference, so let them send Lopez, I’ll still win,” bragged Moore.
The fighter says that he was longing to fight a Colombian after his controversial lost to Irene Pacheco in 2006 for the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Inter-Continental title.
“That fight really messed up my career because I would have gone on to fight Johnny
Gonzalez to become a number one contender for the world title but I did all I could have done, I won the fight, but the judges they played a part in my little downfall. So now its revenge, do- or-die because I am hungry for a world title and this is a huge stepping stone,” Moore added.
Moore presently ranked seventh in the World by the WBC said the fight means a lot to him since the other titles would land him directly in contention for a title fight under the WBA.
“You see, people wouldn’t know how dear this is to me, first of all I’m glad that it is taking place at home because I want to show Guyana that Leon Moore is worthy of their support and also worthy of being their world champion. So I’m training hard, healthy as ever and waiting on Lopez to come and let’s get this thing over with” the fighter added.
Lopez, whose record stands at 39 fights, with 30 wins, 21 Kos, seven loses and two draws, is known as the spoiler in the sport for those trying to reach the top before him.
To this, Moore added – “well this is one person he is not going to spoil, this shell is harder to crack than anything right now, I’m not even going to worry about him but I wouldn’t take him for granted, he is a boxer just like me and want the same thing, but only thing I want it more than him”
“A few fighters came here and they were treated nice before the fight but after they step into the ring with me, and the good treatment of Guyanese people was over”
At age 30, Moore who started his professional career in 2001, has stepped into the ring 26 times and won 24 of those encounter where he placed 22 opponents on the canvas, but he has two discordant loses to his name.
The fight between the Guyanese and the Colombian would be the main supporting bout to the World title fight between Shondell Alfred and Corinne De Groot for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) bantamweight title.
