Headline News

Ray Moylette hopes for Christian Uruzquieta Rematch


Ray Moylette [11(4)-1(0)] is keen to take on Christian Uruzquieta again in 2019.

As last year came to a close we were treated with a number of exciting fights and the drama and theatre of Moylette-Uruzquieta was unmatched.

The pair faced off for the WBC International Silver lightweight title in Castlebar last month and the Mexican visitor emerged victorious on a split decision.

Mayo’s Moylette was dropped twice in the fifth but fought back well and he believes, if given another go, that he can beat Uruzquieta

“I would love to avenge the defeat,” he told Irish-Boxing.com.

“I know without the knockdowns I would have won the fight.”

“I can out-box this guy for 10 rounds. I still think I could have nicked it with the knockdowns that’s how close it was.”

“I know I could beat him and I would love the rematch. We will need a bigger venue and I know we would fill it again.”

Whether it will be an immediate rematch or not remains to be seen. A fight in Boston in March first has been proposed before building into a rematch later in 2019.

If and when it does happen, ‘Sugar Ray’ knows what he has to do.

Analysing their first fight, Moylette described how “it’s funny people saying he was more aggressive but you caught him the cleaner shots.”

“Look back a few months and Canelo beat Golovkin on the back foot with the cleaner shots. The fight played out in similar style.”

“Uruzquieta brought exactly what I thought. I knew he was game and I knew he was going to walk forward for the 10 rounds. However I didn’t expect him to have so much power.”

“The game plan was to weather the storm and then out box him. It nearly played out.”

“I thought I could catch his punches in close distance. The reality is he was much stronger than I anticipated and he wore me down to the body.”

“He took a lot out of me in the early rounds and when it came time to out box him I did but just left myself too much to do.”

Round 5 was a pivitol stanza, with Moylette being dropped twice but surviving and fighting back.

One of the most amazing rounds of the year, Moylette claims his head was clear amidst the heavy fire.

“Round 5 was a tough round for me,” he outlines. “You may laugh when I tell you that I wasn’t hurt. I had all my senses and I knew exactly what was happening.”

“However, my legs went like jelly and I couldn’t get my balance.”

“Uruzquieta smelled blood and just rushed me. No quality but I was struggling to find my feet. No pain and I was trying to outsmart him but my legs were giving in.”

“The second knockdown wasn’t much. It was a combination of been off balance and a flurry if punches. I took the count as I knew every second counted and my legs would come back to me soon enough.”

Of course, after he hit the deck, Moylette would rise almost cinematically, backed by the 2,000 mad Mayo fans in the Royal Theatre.

The Islandeady man acknowledges that it was a special moment and it is something he wants to build on in 2019.

Moylette noted how “the roar of the crowed was something that I will never forget.”

“I could have never forgiven myself if I didn’t get up.”

“I used all my skill to survive and I knew when I got back to the corner I would be a new man coming out.”

“I don’t know… am I having nightmares or wonderful dreams? I can still visualise the crowed urging me back up.

“A special thank to all my supporters and everyone who made the night so special. I did my bit in the ring and the crowd did their bit outside the ring to ensure the future is bright for Irish Boxing.”

“Let’s build on this momentum and keep honest boxing on the up.”

dpg

logo may

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

x