IT'S full steam ahead for Jamie Moore's European title push after he made light work of winning the Irish light-middleweight title at the weekend.

Moore stopped Ciaran Healy in the third round of their contest at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, a fight which in effect was a warm-up for his projected showdown with Euro champion Zaysan Baysangurov in Wigan on September 26.

The fight turned out to be little more than a useful workout for Moore, his second since shoulder surgery in December.

He flew straight to Tenerife for a week's holiday after the fight, but will be back in Oliver Harrison's Salford gym in a fortnight to prepare for unbeaten Ukrainian ace Baysangurov. Moore hurt Belfast fighter Healy in the first round, twice dropped him with body shots in the second and finished it off with a left hook to the body in the third.

"Jamie was simply too good for him," said Moore's satisfied manager Steve Wood, who is still dotting the Is and crossing the Ts for the Baysangurov fight, due to be staged at Robin Park Arena.

"Everything looks OK - his shoulder was fine, he had no other problems, and the fight will get him nicely sharpened up for the European title."

There is a growing clamour for a showdown between Moore, who qualifies for the Irish title as his mum's family is from Kilkenny, and Derry fighter John Duddy, who has won all 25 of his contests, 23 of them in the US.

Duddy is lined up to drop from middleweight to light- middle later this year, and face Verno Phillips for the IBF title. If he wins, and Moore beats Baysangurov, a possible world title showdown is being touted for early next year.

DAVID Barnes has his eyes firmly fixed on joining an elite band of British boxers to have won Lonsdale Belts outright at two different weights.

The 27-year-old Partington fighter made his first successful defence of his British light- welterweight title by outpointing Scottish fighter Barry Morrison in Liverpool. Two more defences would see him take the prestigious belt outright, to go with the one he won at welterweight in 2004.

"He has one belt for his eldest daughter Kelsey, now he says he wants another for her little sister Kia," said trainer Bob Shannon.

Barnes badly bruised a rib sparring hard-hitting stablemate Denton Vassell three weeks before the contest and was almost pulled out.

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