-to fight Kenichi Yamaguchi on November 14
By Rawle Toney
It seems as though Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore’s career is moving apace as his nom de guerre indicates since just two weeks after winning the NABA, WBC Continental Americas and the WBA Fedelatin bantamweight titles he has now signed a two-year deal with International Boxing Promotions of Thailand.
Manager Carwyn Holland told Stabroek Sport that the deal was in the making since Moore had fought Irene Pacheco in 2006 and suffered a controversial loss.
The company which is owned by a wealthy Australian has been keeping a close eye on Moore’s steady climb in the sport and after he tactically out-boxed Mauricio Pastrana at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall they were convinced that the Guyanese is worth investing in.
“It’s a big deal not only for Leon but I think for Caribbean boxers on the whole because part of the deal is that we would have the TV rights for the Caribbean and 50% of South America because these guys are linked to HBO and so on.”
And also, Holland said, at least one of his fights during the two-year deal must be staged in the Caribbean.
“Ok, let’s say if he (Leon Moore) has four fights during that time frame, they would have to promote one with me through my promotional group, Holland’s Entertainment. You see this was based on a request by Leon because he wants to help other Caribbean fighters to get exposure as well,” Holland noted.
Holland, the 2004 World Boxing Promoter of the Year, said that Moore was eager to make sure that Caribbean fighters get a piece of what he is getting.
“Moore says that he doesn’t want to be like the other Caribbean boxers who after getting on top move out of the Caribbean completely. He wants to still campaign from right here, so he says regardless of how big he makes it, he will remain in the Caribbean to help lift the sport,” Holland added.
The former journalist-turned-promoter said further: “This deal is a win-win for us. Leon has nothing to lose here but he has a faster shot at the world title and these guys have the right set up to take us there. Plus it’s lucrative also, so you can expect Guyana’s next world champion doing big things.”
Moore, ranked No.6 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) in the bantamweight division, is the Caribbean’s highest rated fighter.
The WBC CABOFE bantamweight fighter will make his first outing under his handlers on November 14 in Bangkok, Thailand when he faces Kenichi Yamaguchi of Osaka, Japan.
Moore was slated to fight the Asian Pacific Champion, Sod Looknongyangtoy, but Holland said that the fighter had hurt his hands recently and will not recover in time.
The 29-year-old Yamaguchi has 19 fights with 15 wins, one loss and two draws. His last fight was on July 9 against Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib for the interim WBO Asia Pacific featherweight title but it ended in a no-contest.
Moore, 30, has a ring record of 25 wins (22 KOs) from 27 fights and two losses. He has not lost a fight since knocking out Paul Lewis in the second round at Skinner Park, Trinidad on March 3, 2007.
“I think Leon’s first fight will be very tough, because these guys are no pushover, we all know he is a good boxer, we saw how he was against Pastrana, he is fit, always working and now we are ready to take his career to another level,” said Holland.