The Incredible Hulk is ready to return!
Tuesday 31 March 2015 13:53, UK
Jamie Moore is optimistic about Andre Ward v Carl Froch and Amir Khan v Kell Brook - but is first excited by Anthony Joshua and James DeGale's upcoming fights.
Andre Ward, the WBA super-middleweight champion, says he will rematch Carl Froch in Britain - but not in Nottingham...
Jamie says: I spoke to Andre at Wembley when Froch fought George Groves – he was amazed by the turnout of the British public and the atmosphere they created. He got a taste of what it’s like to box in a big stadium in this country and he wants a piece of that.
Ward feels like it’s a massive fight over here, which it would be. But saying he’ll fight anywhere but Nottingham is just letting Froch know that although he’ll come over to his country, Ward is still in charge.
The first fight between those two, although they were the best two super-middleweights in the world, Ward bossed it. Froch isn’t happy with how that panned out and he’ll feel that another monumental effort can make it a closer fight.
Froch wants to prove something to himself rather than to Andre Ward.
I spoke to Andre at Wembley when Froch fought George Groves – he was amazed by the turnout of the British public and the atmosphere they created. He got a taste of what it’s like.
Amir Khan finally seems willing to fight IBF welterweight champ Kell Brook - did you always expect him to have a change of heart?
Jamie says: Khan has maybe learned a few bad habits from Floyd Mayweather about wanting to entirely call the shots. Khan is in the middle ground where Mayweather and Pacquiao didn’t want to fight him – but Khan hasn’t wanted to fight Brook.
Some people have said that Amir has an inflated opinion of himself but he’s achieved some really great things in boxing so far. He’s achieved more than Brook so it’s a fair comment to say that he’s ahead of Kell.
Khan has been on record saying he’ll fight Brook if he wins a world title, but when Brook won the title Khan was more interested in Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao.
I don’t think Khan ever wanted to avoid Brook, I think he genuinely believed it wasn’t the right time.
Boxing is a sport and the fans pay your wages so sometimes you have to bow to public pressure and do whatever they demand of you. Now is the time for Khan to say, ‘you know what, let’s settle our differences’.
Anthony Joshua makes his return this weekend against Jason Gavern, live on Sky Sports. Is the Moore family excited?
Jamie says: He’s my son’s favourite fighter – he calls Joshua ‘The Incredible Hulk!’ And rightly so, Joshua is an absolute monster of a man.
There are no lads in my gym that looks like he does! As a physical specimen and an athlete, he’s everything you could ask for as a trainer although he’s got a lot to learn inside the ring.
I can’t wait to see one of the hottest talents we’ve ever had in Britain make his return. If he can fulfil his potential we’ll have a superstar of the heavyweight division.
There’s intrigue around Joshua – he’ll put in an explosive performance and this fight shouldn’t last two rounds.
James DeGale's world title fight against Andre Dirrell will be in Boston so will the unusual location benefit the British challenger?
Jamie says: It’s usually fighters with Irish blood that go and fight in Boston. It’s not Las Vegas or New York so it will be a different experience for DeGale, but he’s got the temperament and attitude to just focus on the fight at hand.
The American stage will suit DeGale. He’ll thrive off that and perform to his maximum.
Fighters thrive off adrenaline, that’s how I look at it. Put a fighter’s back to the wall and usually you’ll get the best out of them. If the odds are against them, they’re in the opponent’s hometown with foreign people and a strange environment, they always seem to perform to their potential. So this scenario will bring the best out of DeGale.
Floyd Mayweather claims to be hurt if he disappoints fans - do you think he's changing his public persona?
Jamie says: He created the ‘Money Mayweather’ character, which has been a big part of his success, but now he wants to get away from that.
He’s always talking about his legacy and how he’ll be remembered so he must be worrying that he’s not the most likable fighter in the world. He definitely doesn’t want to go down in history as absolutely brilliant but nobody liked him – nobody wants that reputation.
Mayweather doesn’t want to be the bad guy anymore. He knows how liked Manny Pacquiao is so he’s trying to add another string to his bow and come across as the nice guy for the fans.
Whether it’s genuine or not, it doesn’t matter – if he’s trying to improve himself as a human being as well as a boxer, that can only be a good thing.
Watch Live Fight Night featuring Anthony Joshua, plus Adonis Stevenson v Sakio Bika, on Saturday at 8pm on Sky Sports 2 HD.
