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Rodney Returns!

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Rodney Moore: comeback at major Cage Contenders show in King’s Hall, Belfast, on April 28.

Rodney Moore is planning the toughest comeback fight of his career - against Dean 'The Boogeyman' Lister, one of the top 20 middleweights in the world!
But Moore, coach at the Institute of Mixed Martial Arts (IMMA) Next Generation gym in Linenhall Street, Ballymena, has no fear and is currently preparing for war.
The showdown jointly tops the fight bill at Cage Contenders XIII in the King's Hall, Belfast, on Saturday, April 28, sharing the spotlight with his IMMA clubmate Colin Robinson, who tackles a re-match with Neil Wain.
Moore's last punch-up in anger was back in 2009!
A number of other priorities got in his way of fighting - but now after discussions with his wife Julie he has decided to get back into the ring.
“My brother got married and I had to keep myself looking good for his wedding photographs," quipped Moore. "Then my wife had our baby son Ethan, and that kept me busy around the house, and my actual gym in Linenhall Street took off with membership soaring and I concentrated more on the coaching side of things, passing on all I know to the young fighters."
Now he is ready to return - but did he need as tough a comeback battle?
“Dean has never been beaten or stopped," Moore told Guardian Sport. "He has fought in every major MMA promotion in the world. When I was told I would be fighting him in April I knew immediately it would be a really, really tough fight to come back in."
Cage Contender promoter John Ferguson has been having talks with Moore over the past year about a comeback fight.
“ I thought about it for a while and talked it over with my wife and then when 'Big C' (Colin Robinson) had his comeback it got the fire going again, and I said yes to the 'wild card' offer," explained Moore.
“This guy (Lister) is a legend and to even get him to compete in a show in our country is a massive achievement so there was no way I was saying no."
Moore intends giving the 35-year-old American plenty to think about.
“At the end of the day he is only human," Moore told Guardian Sport. "I intend breaking him down bit by bit and hopefully make him think 'I've thrown everything at this guy and he's still in front of me,'. That is when the demons creep in and that is when I will be at my best. I am there to fight him, and believe me a fight is what he is going to get. I want him to remember my name for a long, long time to come."
Moore is a former three times Irish title holder and also won a UK crown.
He fought for the European title three times but was denied twice and one robbed by decisions.

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