SUNTEC CITY, Singapore – Guyana’s Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore delivered a classy performance to beat Indonesia’s champion Marangin Marbun last night, capturing the Pan Asian Boxing Association (PABA) super bantamweight belt.

Guyana’s Leon `Hurry Up’ Moore is seen receiving his PABA belt from boxing officials in Singapore.

Moore repelled a determined challenge from Marbun at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre and scored a unanimous points decision victory that takes him closer to a world title shot.

The 12-round PABA championship bout was sanctioned by the World Boxing Association (WBA).

Moore, who was scoring his first victory outside of the Caribbean, improved his record to 26 wins (22 knockouts) against two losses.

Marbun slipped to 19 wins (seven knockouts) against seven defeats and one draw.

Moore, 31, showed why he is considered world class by many and won almost every round against young Marbun in a very tough fast-paced fight.

The Indonesian was very aggressive from the opening bell and attacked the Guyanese with whirlwind shots but the gifted Moore used his skills and speed to dodge the blows.

Moore, who suffered losses in Colombia and Kyrgyzstan in his only previous bouts outside the Caribbean, repeatedly dished out unanswered combination punches and kept the 24-year-old Asian power puncher at bay and on unsteady legs.

Already holding a top 10 world ranking, Moore is now a step closer to securing a world title opportunity after his latest commanding win.

“It was a very tough fight but I was determined to beat him every single round,” Moore said after the victory.
The win also added the PABA belt to his growing list of title successes.
He previously captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas title, plus the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) and North American Boxing Association (NABA) titles.

Last October, Moore’s career received a huge boost when he signed a lucrative two-year promotional contract with the Asia-based Top Rated International Boxing Promotions in Bangkok, Thailand.

Moore’s manager Carwyn Holland said the contract will steer Moore towards a shot at the world 122-pound (super-bantamweight) belt.

Last night’s victory stretched Moore’s current winning streak to eight fights.

His only career losses were controversial defeats — in 2006 to Colombian Irene Pacheco in Barranquilla and in 2007 to Kyrgyzstan’s Timur Shailezov in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, both by narrow margins on points.

Moore is trying to become the fifth Guyanese man, after Andrew Lewis, Wayne Braithwaite, Vivian Harris and Gairy St Clair, to win a world boxing title. (CMC)