Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Last night in Manchester, England, a packed Altrincham Leisure Centre saw a light middleweight contest promoted by Frank Maloney and VIP Promotions, billed as “Jamie Moore: The Fighter’s Fighter!â€
Jamie Moore, the popular Salford boxer and reigning two time British Champion, was looking for a world title shot and saw this fight as a step up to world level. His opponent, the confident Argentinean Sebastian Andres Lujan, had already challenged for two WBO titles along with a IBO belt and was expected to give Moore all he could handle.
Round one begins and Moore seems happy to take his time settling in. The home fighter covers up well under the barrage of round house shots to his body. Using the inside of his glove and swinging at Moore, the Argentinean keeps up the pace but Moorsey protects his body against the attack, which doesn’t seem to be bothering him and picks some timely shots of his own, including the trademark uppercut.
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Lujan is backed up against the ropes for most of the first half of round two and Moore looks the more professional of the two fighters. So far, Lujan
seems to be more quantity than quality, half-heartedly throwing a lot of swinging shots that don’t look to be very powerful. Promoter Frank Maloney is watching closely from the ring apron.
Midway through round three and Lujan has Moore backed up in the corner and the British Champion has to defend himself tightly against the shots to head and body before dipping out of the corner. It’s a better round for Lujan. The crowd support their local lad with chants of “Moorsey, Moorsey…â€
Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Lujan looks sloppy against the more polished Jamie Moore but the Argentinean does his trademark hand-wiggle as he returns to his corner
at the end of the round.
In the first minute of round four, Moore lands some hard body punches as Lujan is forced back in to Moore’s corner. “Aim for his chest!,” shouts Moore’s trainer Oliver Harrison.
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In the last 50 seconds of the fourth, Moore lands a peach of a left hook to the face of Lujan. The Argentinean does a little shimmy and shakes it off as if to say “that was nothing”. Then with outstretched arms, he calls Moore in and the visitor’s showboating fuels the crowd as they get noisier.
Rounds five and six are much the same, with Moore keeping control and Lujan looking unfocused.
Round seven sees Moore step it up as he lands some solid punches and the Argentinean is looking a bit ragged. “Come on, Jamie; you’re the Man!” shouts Moore’s corner. In the last 20 seconds of the frame, Lujan suddenly springs up and puts on the pressure, backing Moore on the ropes, but it’s too late for this round and the bell sounds the end of the seventh.
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In the last half of round eight, a body shot to the right side of Lujan sees the South American wince and he looks hurt from the shot. He wiggles his gloves again as a sign of bravado and continues. In the last 10 seconds of the round, Moore lands a left hook to the face of Lujan, then a right hand to the nose. It’s a great finish to the round for Jamie Moore.
While the work rate from both boxers has been constant throughout the fight, the quality has come from Moore.
With 40 seconds of round nine to go, there is a flurry of punches from Lujan as he backs Moore on the ropes and then in the corner. It’s a burst of
activity from the Argentinean who again calls Moore in but the Salford man keeps his composure.
Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Both boxers touch gloves as they come out for the twelfth and final round. Again, there is a short flurry of punches from Lujan as he backs Moore up on the ropes midway through the round.
The crowd are on their feet for the last 40 seconds of the round, which ends with no one being knocked down or hurt. Immediately afterward, referee Phil Edwards raises Jamie Moore’s hand in victory and Oliver Harrison hugs his fighter.
Salford’s Jamie Moore wins on points 110-119.
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Afterwards, Moore said he knew that Lujan would try to frustrate him. Frank Maloney said he was disappointed with Lujan but he felt the fight
showed that Jamie Moore has arrived at world level. Moore said he’d been after a European title for over 12 months but it hadn’t happened so he was hoping for another world title eliminator in the meantime.
Undercard Boxing Photos…
Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
