By Thomas Myler

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/moore-keeps-on-track-for-title-bid-1453703.html

Move over, Andy Lee and John Duddy.

With 16 wins in 17 fights on America's East Coast, Wicklow lightmiddle James Moore also has his sights set on a world title fight -- and is prepared to take on any of the top 10-stone contenders to prove his capabilities.

The former three-time national senior welterweight champion and world bronze medallist extended his record last week in New York, where he is based, with a unanimous points decision over the tough Virgin Islander Lloyd Christian Joseph at BB King's Blues Club in Manhattan. Two judges marked his card 78-74 and one had it 79-73.

It was the first ring appearance for Moore (30) since dropping a disputed points decision to Gabriel Rosado in Brooklyn in June. Even the local boxing writers said the wrong man won on that occasion.

"It was great to get back in action last week and now I just want to move on," he said yesterday. "I regard the defeat by Rosado as just a blip in my career. It was no disgrace to lose but having said that, I wasn't myself in that fight. I think it was my diet, which was all wrong.

"My wife Leanne was against me going into the ring that night. Others felt the same, but I ignored all of them and paid the price with my first loss.

"I haven't even looked at a tape of the fight. It's in the past now, and with the win over Joseph behind me, I can look ahead.

"Joseph was a tough opponent and I had to be careful all the way, but he was the type of opponent I wanted. There is no point in having too many easy fights.

"Every boxer on the way up needs good opponents he can learn from, and I hope I have learned from the win."

Entertaining

With over 300 bouts as an amateur, Moore has attracted a lot of interest on the New York boxing scene. Steve Farhood, the Broadway-based boxing writer and former editor of 'Ring' magazine, regarded as boxing's bible in the US, said: "James is a very fan-friendly fighter whose body attack alone makes him entertaining.

"Every time out, his vast wealth of amateur experience provides a solid foundation for him. He's the type of fighter who adds value to every card he appears on. I definitely think he can go places."

Moore arrived in New York in June 2005 determined to pursue a professional career. "I was getting very frustrated as an amateur," he said. "Bad decisions and all that. The judging system was and still is all wrong.

"I believe that in amateur boxing, each of the judge's scores should be called out at the end of the fight and that they should be made accountable for their decisions. That's how it is in the pro game and it is much fairer that way.

"I might have turned professional after I won the bronze medal in the World Championships in 2001 but the pro game in Ireland was dead at the time, unlike today when it's thriving.

"Also, I got a hand injury which took the guts of a year to heal. But I saw what Wayne McCullough and Steve Collins had achieved by coming to the US and turning pro so I decided that was the road for me, and I've no regrets."

Moore trained recently with world lightwelterweight champion Paul Malignaggi in Sicily, ahead of the New Yorker's successful title fight with Lovemore N'dou in Manchester -- and Malignaggi was very impressed with the Wicklow boxer. "A real comer" is how he described Moore.