James Moorcroft
Date of Birth: 0/3/93
From: Wigan
Record: 19-4 (6 KOs)
Weight: Welterweight
Height: 5ft 11in
Stance: Orthodox
James Moorcroft faces a make or break 2024 and knows he must deliver when he steps up and faces VIP stablemate Rhys Woods in March 2024 following back-to-back losses. The Ant Crolla trained boxer was quietly fancied by the VIP team to upset Ethan James in a WBO European title fight in July 2023, but had an off-night losing a unanimous decision after ten rounds.
It was another disappointing night at the end of the year when he was fancied to beat another VIP boxer Matty Rennie, but came off second best after ten hard fought rounds. That year had started off well with a stunning performance stopping fellow VIP boxer Nathan Bennett in two rounds.
He also took a risk and went on the road to face unbeaten Spaniard Jon Miguez in May 2022 and although he gave a good account his night ended in the sixth round of a scheduled eight rounder. Moorcroft returned to winning ways in September 2022 stopping Nigerian Olaide Fijabi inside two rounds and ended the year outpointing Serge Ambomo.
He was closing in on a British Welterweight title fight at the start of 2020, but cameunstuck when he travelled to Scotland to tackle Martin Harkin in January, ending a 13 fight winning streak.
‘The Hindley Hammer’ was winning their British Welterweight title eliminator, but was caught by a sledgehammer right in the fifth round and could no longer continue. Momentum had been with Moorcroft who in 2019 stopped all four opponents he faced, Simon Henry, Jake Best, Sam Omidi and Eligio Palacios.
After 16 months out following the Harkin setback, Moorcroft had his first fight under trainer Crolla and took a shut out points win against MJ Hall. After the layoff caused by the pandemic he returned in September 2021, when he beat Octavian Gratil who was well behind when he was disqualified in the eighth and final round for continuously losing his gum shield.