Jamie Moore in hospital after being shot in both legs in Marbella

Shooting on the Costa del Sol was apparently a case of mistaken identity

Retired boxer Jamie Moore (right) is in hospital after being shot in an apparent case of mistaken identity (Twitter/Jamie Moore)

Retired former boxing champion Jamie Moore (above, right) has been shot in the legs in Marbella in an apparent case of mistaken identity.

The 35-year-old is recovering in hospital - where he is under armed guard - on the Costa del Sol, Spain, after the incident in the early hours of Sunday morning.

According to reports the former British and European light-middleweight champion was leaving the home of an acquaintance when gunmen appeared and opened fire. Moore is believed to have been shot five times, requiring hip and leg surgery.

He is in Spain training Matthew Macklin, who owns a gym in the city, ahead of his fight against Jorge Sebastian Heiiland in Dublin on 30 August.

Moore, originally from Salford, took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to say: "Thanks for all the well wishes. Overwhelmed. Gutted and confused about what happened, but thank God I'm OK.

Moore is in Spain training Matthew Macklin (Getty Images)

"It's at times like this that you realise how well your thought of. I've had unbelievable support.

"Means a lot it really does."