February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
McDermott’s opponent in a scheduled four-rounder will be announced this week, but he’s ready for all comers after a great camp in Vero Beach, Fla.
“Everything’s healed and I’ve been training hard,” he said last Sunday, before winding up camp at trainer Buddy McGirt’s gym.
McDermott’s unanimous points victory over Alex Matos at the Garden last June was marred by a nasty cut over his left eye from an inadvertent head butt. It required 16 stitches to close.
The 26-year-old, who traces his lineage to Foxford, Co.Mayo, sparred countless rounds with Sean Eklund, the nephew of retired brawler Mickey Ward and a lightweight prizefighter himself who’ll be on the Whippany card.
“We’ve been friends for a long time,” McDermott said.
For ticket information, call (973) 903-2907, (973) 931-8812 or visit www.roundcardmodels.com. The Hanover Marriott is located at 1401 Route 10 East, Whippany. Hotel information is available at (973) 538-8811.
MOORE RETURN
James Moore makes a quick return after his impressive pro debut on Aug. 4 when he squares off with Cory Jones at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York next Friday.
Moore drilled fellow newcomer Gabriel Garcia in two heats at the Manhattan Center and now goes up against a former New York Golden Gloves winner Jones whose only other pro contest was nullified because of a reported drug violation.
According to Boxrec.com, Jones’ four-round debut win over one Scott Neblett in upstate Saratoga Springs last May was nullified and changed to a “non-contest” because of a “violation of illegal substance policy.”
Neither that nor his credentials as an erstwhile Golden Gloves champion bothered Moore’s handler Eddie McLoughlin.
“We’re not concerned that he’s a former Golden Gloves winner,” shrugged McLoughlin. “We have all the confidence in James. He’s as good as a guy who’s 10-0 and punches like a son of a gun.”
Ticket information for Moore’s fight, scheduled for four rounds, is available from Martin McLoughlin at (917) 682-6525.
LEE DELAY
Ex-Olympian Andy Lee, earlier listed to make his first pro start in Detroit last Saturday, will now debut in Atlantic City on Sept. 24.
The 21-year-old southpaw from Limerick has signed with Emanuel Stewart, the legendary trainer of champions and founder of Detroit’s famed Kronk Gym.
A light middleweight, Lee reached the quarterfinals of last year’s Olympic Games in Athens.
The main event on the Sept. 24 HBO show will be a world heavyweight title eliminator between Samuel Peter, aka “The Nigerian Nightmare,” and Ukrainian giant Vladimir Klitschko.