‘Sugar Ray’ in seventh heaven

BOXING CLEVER Ray Moylette is pictured at work in the gym. Pic: John Moylette

Ger Flanagan

ISLANDEADY’S ‘Sugar Ray’ Moylette heightened his professional boxing record to 7-0 in Boston over the weekend with a second round stoppage of former world title contender, Michael Clarke.
The former World Youth Gold medalist stopped the American veteran, who has 63 professional bouts to his name, in convincing fashion in front of a bumper crowd in the House of Blues, Boston on Saturday night.
It was Moylette’s second bout of his three week trip to Boston, having defeated two-time Michigan State Golden Gloves champion Donte Bryant two weeks previous in Foxwood Resort Casino, Connecticut.
‘Sugar Ray’ was floored for the first time in his career by the dangerous Byrant in the second round, but pulled himself off the canvas and recovered well to take the fight on a split decision.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) having just arrived home from Boston, Moylette reflected on another successful trip.
“The first fight was the hardest of the two of them, against a dangerous opponent with a good amateur background,” he said. “It was the first time in my career that I got dropped so I had to come back after.
“It was a shock to myself because as soon as I hit the ground I bounced back up again… I didn’t really know what to do and I just panicked… For experience I don’t ever want it to happen again, but if it does, I’ll be better prepared.
“Against [Michael] Clarke, I was very relaxed and I felt at home in there. He was never going to pose a threat to me… I am at that level where journeymen are no good to me anymore… I wanted a harder fight personally, but from now on, they will be kicked-up a notch.”
The 27 year-old knocked out Clarke as part of a show for American TV Sports Channel ESPN and was being promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy promotions and Murphy’s Boxing.
Although he admitted that ‘he would fight every week’ given the opportunity, realistically he would ‘hope to have another two fights by the end of the year’, with a possible world title challenge in 2018.
Also a keen gaelic football fan, Moylette expressed his delight that his native Islandeady qualified for the quarter-final of the Mayo Intermediate Championship, and is looking forward to attending their clash against Burrishoole next weekend.