Harper warns: Don’t write off Mooney!

Michael Mooney at the press conference for Top Boxer

IN a sense, it is a meeting of fighting men with a mirror-image mindset.

Former English champ Adam Harper is, admittedly, more introverted than Michael Mooney, the battled hardened Worcester warrior he’s helping to prepare for September 9’s Top Boxer tear-up. But, then, Mooney would make a town crier appear shy and retiring.

He’s more measured in his comments.

But Harper, now retired, and Mooney share the same love for a scrap, do-or-die approach and feed off the bookies odds placed against them.

Mooney, at 38 and with over 100 bouts to his name, is the surprise addition to Tommy Owens’ eight man lightweight tournament, which offers the winner a £6,000 purse. He has referred to it as his “last dance” in boxing.

Harper is helping the veteran prepare and will be there, on the night, at Planet Ice, Solihull, warming up the larger-than-life boxer who goes by the nickname “Mad Man”.

Tewkesbury’s former titleholder is aware of the task ahead, but today issued a “don’t write off Mooney” warning.

Harper in his fighting days…he’s teamed-up with Mooney

“He’s training hard,” Harper assured me. “I think he’ll be more than prepared for this. He is doing his roadwork, he is looking sharp on the pads. I know how ‘up’ he is for this. Boxing was a job to him before this.

“They say the last thing to go is punch power and Mooney has stopped good men. If he has anything left and punch power is the last thing to go, he can do it again.”

But Harper admits it is a trip into the unknown, the odds are against Mooney and a degree of good fortune will be needed.

“Listen, it all depends on the draw, it’s all about the draw,” he stressed. “He needs that on his side, fate if you like. He is probably past his best. Ten years ago I believe he would’ve been good enough to beat any of those lads on the day. And, remember, he took this at three weeks notice.

“How much has he left in the tank? We won’t know that until the night.”

He added: “Michael Mooney wants to win this, then fight for the Midlands title. That’s the Hollywood ending.”

As Harper knows, in boxing, Hollywood endings usually only happen in Hollywood.

But if Mooney were to hit the jackpot on September 9, what a script that would be!

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