McCullough Returns This Month

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Irish Voice Sport

McCullough Returns This Month

May 30, 2008

By Declan O’Kelly

Wayne McCullough (27-6) will make his return to the ring on June 20 in the Cayman Islands when he fights Juan Ruiz (21-5) in a 10 round featherweight contest.

The Pocket Rocket’s fight is just one month shy of three years since his last appearance in the squared circle, when he was defeated by Oscar Larios by TKO in round 10. The Las Vegas-based boxer was close to a return in December against then European champion Kiko Martinez, but a farce ensued when the Spaniard came in over the agreed weight and the fight was canceled.

The Belfast native’s bout will be on the undercard of the super middleweight fight between Andre Ward and Jerson Ravelo, but will not be on the Showtime telecast on the night.

“People will probably say this is a comeback, but in truth I never retired,” said the self-trained McCullough.

He added that his last fight was for a world title against Larios, and that for one reason or another fights in the interim just didn’t come off. The 37-year-old is a renowned gym rat and has never stopped training and preparing for an opportunity like this.

“I’ve sparred somewhere between 600 and 700 rounds in the gym in the past three years,” said McCullough, who respects his opponent but feels Ruiz has never been in with someone of his skill level. The 29-year-old Californian’s last fight was a UD defeat to Bernabe Concepcion on February 9 for the NABF super bantamweight title.

McCullough has always said he feels he can still challenge for a world title, and believes he is but a few victories away from that goal. He argues that he has nothing to prove, that his career speaks for itself and that he continues to fight because he loves the sport. June 20 will show if the legendary battler has anything left in the tank.

In other news, a confident James Moore (15-0) held a press conference on May 21 at Jack Demseys ahead of his June 4 fight against Gabriel Rosado (9-2). Moore said he would be wiling to take on James Kirkland (22-0) or Alfredo Angulo (13-0), two other junior middleweight prospects that fought and won separate bouts on a HBO televised card on May 17.

“I’m looking to make my move, so I’m willing to fight any of these undefeated prospects,” said Moore. “I don’t want easy fights. The bigger the challenges, the more I want the fights.”

Also on hand at the conference was HBO’s unofficial ringside scorer Harold Lederman, who felt Moore would be a good opponent for either Kirkland or Angulo.

Just back from training camp with Paulie Malignaggi in Sicily, the 30-year-old was content with the work done in Italy.

“It was a good workout, but I needed to be pushed harder,” said the Co. Wicklow native, adding that though working with Malignaggi was beneficial for his speed and accuracy he prefers sparring with bigger fighters so he can give and take power punches.

Though Moore was not accompanied to Italy by trainer Harry Keitt, the latter was not worried about his charge.

“ I don’t have to worry about James. When it comes to boxing he is all business,” said Keitt.

Asked if it would be hard for Moore to motivate himself after the big win over Juan Carlos Candelo in his last fight, Keitt was in no doubt as to the mindset of his boxer.

“James is not going to take anything for granted and will train for this fight like he would any other — as if it were for the world title,” he offered.

The late change in venue and opponent does not seem to have affected Moore. Though he admits that he knows very little about his opponent, he said it reminded him a little of his amateur days, when not knowing the style of his opponent made him extra vigilant and more “on edge.”

If anything, Moore is happy with the new venue, the Aviator Sports Arena in Brooklyn.” I am glad the fight is on in New York as it would have been hard for my fans to travel to Atlantic City and back during the week,” he says.

For tickets call Gleason’s Gym at 718-797-2872 or Tommy Gallagher at 917-774-3517.

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