Former European and British champion Jamie Moore tips Manchester to become boxing capital of Europe
Manchester will soon reclaim its crown as the boxing capital of Europe, one of the UK’s leading trainers has insisted, as a new generation of talent begins to emerge from the city.
Jamie Moore, who has tutored the likes of Jack Catterall, Chantelle Cameron, Carl Frampton and Rocky Fielding, became one of the Northwest’s most recognisable sporting figures after winning the British and European super-welterweight titles during his own career inside the ropes.
Together with the likes of former world champions Ricky Hatton and Anthony Crolla, Moore was part of an era when the North-West spawned not only a series of hugely successful fighters but also massive ticket sellers with Michael Gomez, Anthony Farnell and Steve Foster Jnr also drawing big crowds.
With Crolla’s younger brother Will now building his own sizeable following and former GB Olympian Pat Brown turning professional, Moore, who has been tasked with guiding the latter through the professional ranks, is convinced the region is once again set to become the continental epicentre of the sweet science.
“It’s so exciting to be involved in what is happening around here right now,” said Moore, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com.
“Manchester, definitely, is back on the rise again. You can see it. You can smell it. You just know something special is happening.
“Things like this, they always go in peaks and troughs. But one of the reasons why I’m so excited right now is because, with the people coming through, I can see this lasting for 10 years. It won’t be a flash in the pan.
“What a time to be alive in boxing. I’m delighted that we can be a part of leading these kids through.
“Will, who is trained by Ant, is a brilliant professional and he’s going to go a long way,” Moore continued. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him. A hell of a lot.
“Now Pat is going to be making his way in the business as well and he’s going to go a long, long way too.”
Brown is being tipped for big things despite exiting last summer’s games in Paris at the first round stage.
Pat Brown
English amateur heavyweight champion, Pat ‘The Bomber’ Brown has agreed a lucrative promotion deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom – who are also responsible for overseeing Crolla’s development.
Brown, who hails from Sale, is expected to make his debut in the paid ranks early next year with a bout in the cruiserweight division.
In a sign of Hearn’s belief in Brown’s potential, 300 fans were invited to ‘An Evening With’ the 25-year-old at a venue in Manchester’s Northern Quarter last month.
“Pat will appeal to so many different people,” said Moore. “He’ll have to make adjustments, we know that. But he’s well schooled from his time with Team GB and is turning pro at the right time.
“That’s what fighters need to do to sell arenas out – they need to appeal to different people. Not only people from Manchester but also people from council estates in the Midlands and London too.
“People need to look at them and relate to them. They are chasing their own dreams and they want to see someone just like them doing the same.
“That’s what they’ll see in Pat,” Moore added. “He’s a down to earth kid, who is going all the way.”