Amelia Moore: “I am an athlete, and I know what my potential is. Belts are good, but I also want to fight really good people.”

Amelia Moore: “I am an athlete, and I know what my potential is. Belts are good, but I also want to fight really good people.”

It was another victory for Amelia Moore. The unbeaten former elite amateur advanced her resume to 4-0 with a comprehensive points victory over Bonnie Hunter in March at North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly. Moore won wide on the cards after eight good rounds. But her fourth professional victory came at a cost.

“I didn’t really sleep after the fight. I had to go to the hospital because I broke my hand,” Moore told me a few days after her win. “I have surgery tomorrow morning. Bonnie’s head is pretty hard. One of us was always going to give, and it was my hand that gave. I broke it in the 7th round, and I felt it.”

Moore gained a title with her win over Hunter, and one that adds another high ranking to her name. “I won the North American Boxing Federation lightweight title. It’s a regional title, it’s a stepping stone, but it is recognised by the WBC, so it will see me ranked in the top five.”

Now ranked in the top ten by most of the sanctioning bodies, Moore believes that she has earned that ranking by fighting meaningful opposition. “You have to play the game, you look at other people’s records, they are fighting opponents with losing records,” Moore says. “I haven’t done that. I have only had four fights, but they have either been top-ranked or noteworthy opponents. Even Bonnie, the girl I just fought, fought Jessica Camara. This wasn’t a last-minute call; we had five months to prepare for each other. She had way more experience than I have, and she has fought some good opponents. But I completely dominated her from start to finish, which is what I wanted. They were people who thought the ref should have stopped it, but I am glad he didn’t. Bonnie was always defending herself. But she had no questions for which I didn’t have answers. I was the one who pushed the tempo, and I was the one who dictated everything.”

A world title could be just around the corner, something that doesn’t seem to worry her. “I am coming for domination,” Moore told me. “I know what I am as an athlete.”

Moore could legitimately fight for a world title at either lightweight or super-lightweight. Either division could open up for her in the next year or so. “I think the lightweight division has got some great athletes. I can move between 135 and 140. Katie Taylor is retiring soon, so there is going to be more movement at 140. I think that is important because it is stagnant right now. We will see what opportunities present themselves this year.”

In and around her fights, Moore has been keeping herself busy doing commentary work. As she says, “I am a student of this sport. It opens your eyes to new styles.”

But it is fighting herself where her heart is. But for her, it’s not just about winning titles. It’s something more. “I want to have good, exciting fights,” the 36-year-old American says. “I know everyone says that, but they don’t. Some are in it just for the fame. That’s all cool. But that’s not me. I am an athlete, and I know what my potential is. Belts are good, but I also want to fight really good people.”

Stephanie Han rematches Holly Holm this weekend in Texas, with her fellow American Stevie Morgan in line to fight the winner. Either fight is of interest to Moore. “A lot of people want me to fight Stephanie Han for the WBA title, and that would be a great next step. I would like to fight Stevie Morgan. I think her record is a little padded. But that’s a good fight. For me, not for her.”

Moore had an extensive amateur career, including winning multiple national titles, but she never fought in the Olympics. But she hasn’t totally ruled that option out. “There is a possibility that the pros could be allowed to fight in the 2028 Olympics, and if that door opens, I will be going for that. I am going for everything.” 

Surgery on her broken hand went well. It is healing nicely, and Moore has been cleared to start impact training. All being well, Moore will return in August. Fight number five, and another little step closer to a shot at a world title.      

Photo Credit: Will Paul/CES Boxing