James Moore Gears Up For Clash With Yuri Foreman

Wicklow native James Moore faces the toughest test of his professional career to date when he clashes with Yuri Foreman, the reigning NABF light middleweight champion, on December 13th in Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.

Moore, who moved to New York to pursue his boxing dreams, has a record of 16-1-0 since turning pro,with 10 KO's, his one defeat came in July against Gabriel Rosado who won a unanimous decision over Moore over 8 rounds. Since then, Moore has come back to win a unanimous decision over Christian Llyod Joseph. Moore has good boxing skills and was an acomplished amateur with over 300 amateur contests under his belt. As an amateur he won 3 national titles and a bronze medal at the 2001 World Amateur Boxing Championships. Moore is an attacking, offensive fighter and has yet to be stopped in his professional career. He has only fought to 10 rounds once before against Juan Carlos Candelo, so it remains to be seen if this will be a deciding factor in this fight with Foreman. In the run up to this title fight, he has been training in Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

Yuri Foreman, originally from Belarus and now fighting out of Brooklyn, is undefeated in 26 contests with 8 KO's. He too has good amateur pedigree, he has an amateur record of 75-5 and won 3 national titles. He won the NABF title in 2007 when be won a split decision over Russian, Andrey Tsurkan. He has since successfully defended his title twice, winning both fights by unanimous decision. Foreman has quick hands and feet and is a good counterpuncher, most of his victories have been comprehensive points decision wins. Foreman is currently rated 6 by the WBC, 7 by the IBF, and 5 by the WBA.

This should be a tough fight for Foreman, but as recent performances from Paul McCloskey and Martin Rogan, who were underdogs going into their fights against Lynes and Harrison, have prooved, you can never write off a determined and hungry Irishman.