Martin Murray (boxer)
Martin Murray | |
|---|---|
| Born | Martin Murray 27 September 1982 |
| Nationality | English |
| Other names | Luther |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Middleweight (160 lb) |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Reach | 73 in (185 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 31 |
| Wins | 29 |
| Wins by KO | 12 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
Martin 'Luther' Murray (born 27 September 1982) is an English professional boxer from St Helens, England competing in the Middleweight division. He is the current WBC Silver Middleweight champion.
Professional career
Murray's professional debut came in September 2007 with a victory over Jamie Ambler at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan. He fought once more that year to finish 2007 with a record of 2-0. A busy 2008 saw Murray fight seven more times scoring seven victories over a series of journeyman opponents.[1] On 22 November 2008, he stepped into the limelight by taking part in the fourth series of the Prizefighter tournament shown live on sky. He scored wins over Joe Rea and Danny Butler before beating former English title challenger Cello Renda in the final to claim the £25,000 first prize.[2] Following the tournament victory Murray marked time with wins over fellow prospect Kevin Concepcion in April 2009[3] and former Commonwealth title challenger Thomas Awinbono in July of the same year.[4]
Ricky Hatton Promotions
Murray left VIP Promotions after the Awinbono fight to sign with Hatton Promotions. His first fight was on the undercard of Matthew Macklin's European Title win at the Manchester Velodrome. Murray faced George Aduashvili of Georgia on 25 September 2009 and scored a first round knockout victory. Following the win Murray said that former British champion Wayne Elcock was on his radar as a man he'd like to beat in order to push himself into future title contention.[5] Murray's next fight on 27 November 2009 instead saw the man from St.Helens outpoint Belarus boxer Sergey Khomitski with a points victory over 8 rounds.[6] In his first fight of 2010 Murray continued his winning run against international opposition with a victory over the Georgian middleweight champion Shalva Jomardashvili.[7] A shot at the Commonwealth title against Tanzanian boxer Francis Cheka should have followed however Cheka was refused a work permit and on 24 May 2010 in Sheffield Murray instead boxed another non-title fight and defeated late replacement Lee Noble in the third round scoring his 19th straight victory.[8]
On Saturday 18 July, Murray defeated Nick Blackwell for the vacant British Middleweight title.
Commonwealth champion
On 16 July 2010 Murray finally fought for a first professional title, the middleweight version of the Commonwealth crown. His opponent at the fight in the Bolton Arena was Australian Peter Mitrevski Jr. Murray went the full 12 round distance for the first time in his career and won on a unanimous points decision. Despite the win Murray claimed that he had felt "sluggish" throughout the fight adding that "I know I can perform much better".[9] He followed up the win on 26 November 2010 with a fight for a second title in a row at the Bolton Arena. His opponent, Brazilian Carlos Nascimento, was the co-challenger for the WBA version of the inter-continental title with Murray winning by stoppage in the third round.[10]
Murray fought against Felix Sturm on 2 December 2011 at the SAP-Arena in Mannheim, Germany for the WBA Middleweight Title. The fight went 12 rounds and ended up being scored a draw.
Second world title opportunity
It was confirmed going into his with fight Jorge Navarro (12-0) at Manchester Arena on 24 November 2012 for the interim WBA World Middleweight Championship, that if Murray were to defeat Navarro, he would be the next in line for a shot at the WBA World Middleweight Championship currently held by Gennady Golovkin. Murray, now 25-0-1, defeated the undefeated Venezuelan by TKO and would fight for the world title against World Middleweight Champion Sergio Gabriel Martínez in Argentina on 27 April 2013.[11][12] Murray lost a close, controversial decision in a fight where Murray put Martinez on the canvas twice but the referee only counting one knockdown.
Murray made a slow and defensive start to the bout which was unlikely to win him rounds against the Argentine hero in his backyard however he came on very strong, landing hard punches, cutting the eye of the Champion and knocking down the champion, however Martinez rallied late and was awarded the decision victory.[13][14]
Personal life
Murray and his wife Gemma have three children.
Professional boxing record
References
- ^ Boxrec|Professional record
- ^ Britishboxing.net|Murray minted after Prizefighter the Middleweights
- ^ Liverpool Echo|Murray's not in a hurray
- ^ Liverpool Echo|Murray puts his title credentials on the line
- ^ Liverpool Echo | Martin Murray keen to fight Wayne Elcock
- ^ Liverpool Echo | Unbeaten Murray given a scare by the ghost
- ^ Liverpool Echo | Georgian champion a threat to Murray
- ^ Murray keeps on track for commonwealth title crack
- ^ Liverpool daily post | Martin Murray "disappointed" after winning Commonwealth belt
- ^ Boxrec|Easy nights work for Fatton, Murray and quigg
- ^ http://ringsidereport.com/?p=24824
- ^ http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2012/11/sergio-martinez-v-martin-murray-set-for.html
- ^ Template:Cite weblurl=http://www.badlefthook.com/2013/4/27/4277110/martinez-vs-murray-results-martinez-gets-off-argentina-canvas--decision-boxing-news
- ^ "Martin Murray beaten by Sergio Martinez in Buenos Aires". BBC Sport. 28 April 2013.