World Boxing Council No. 3 rated super bantamweight Leon “Hurry Up” Moore is ready for his first world title shot and he’s willing to travel from his new home in New York City to Japan if that’s what it takes to challenge WBC champion Toshiaki Nishioka.
The 32-year-old southpaw Moore (28-2, 22 KOs), a native of Guyana, is the reigning PABA and WBC CABOFE super bantamweight champion, as well as the former NABA, Guyanese and CABOFE bantamweight titlist. He moved to the Big Apple earlier this year after signing a promotional contract with New York City-based Boxing 360.
“Nishioka has been a great world champion who has given top challengers their title shots for the past few years,” Moore said. “But now it’s my time and I’m ready to challenge him right in his home country. I’ve heard that his promoter (Honda) wants to make his next fight in Las Vegas. Hey, I’ll fight him in Japan, Las Vegas, New York or on a cruise ship in the Pacific Ocean. Whatever it takes, I’m willing and able to fight him for his belt. My nickname is ‘Hurry Up’ and that’s how I feel about my title shot. Let’s make it happen, Toshiaki.”
Nishioka (38-4-3, 24 KOs) captured the WBC crown back in 2008, when he won a 12-round decision against Napapol Sor Rungvisia. The Japanese warrior has successfully defended his title belt six times against Gernaro Garcia, Jhonny Gonzalez, Ivan Hernandez, Balweg Bangoyan, Rendall Munroe and earlier this month versus Mauricio Javier Munoz.
Moore is riding a 10-fight, four-year win streak including a unanimous 12-round decision against former two-time world champion Maurico Pastrana for the WBC CABOFE and NABA bantamweight belts in September 2009, as well as a unanimous 12-round decision versus Indonesia Boxing Association champion Marangin Marbun for the vacant PABA crown in January 2010. His last action was a win by six-round decision in a stay-busy fight this past April 2 in Brooklyn against veteran Felipe Almanza, marking Moore’s U.S. debut.
