Murray Machine oiled for return on November 22 Bowlers card

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http://static.boxrec.com/wiki/3/3c/John_Murray.jpgNovember 22nd sees former British and European lightweight champion John Murray (31-2) return for his first contest in almost two years when he boxes on Dave Coldwell’s ‘Hot Shots’ card at the Bowlers.

Murray will box over eight rounds against an as yet unnamed opponent. His last outing was a brave world title challenge to an overweight Brandon Rios at Madison Square Garden in December 2011 for the vacant WBA belt, in which he was stopped in round eleven. Murray was due to return against Gavin Rees in December last year, but failed a brain scan. He has since been given the all clear to box by the BBBoC, and the 28 year old from Levenshulme will be aiming to get back into the title mix next year.

 

Coldwell Boxing looks at Murray’s career highlights so far.

Jon Thaxton - October 3rd 2009, Altrincham Leisure Centre

A supposed gut-check for Murray and a genuine step up in class occurred when the popular Mancunian battled Jon Thaxton in Altrincham in 2009. The Norwich fighter possessed excellent credentials and his experience was intended to be the ideal equaliser against Murray’s youth and freshness. That didn’t quite work out. Murray was superb from the outset and his frightening workrate was too much for the outgunned veteran. With only seconds remaining in the fourth stanza, a frightening barrage of punches forced Thaxton into retreat which led to Howard Foster making a sensible intervention.

Gary Buckland - May 7th 2010, Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes

Fighting to keep his treasured Lonsdale title for keeps, Murray was opposed by no-nonsense Welshman, Gary Buckland. The Cardiff man would go onto to excel in championship class but this night was just a step too far as Murray was just that one step ahead at all times. Despite remaining game throughout, the ferocious pace set by the champion was just too much for Buckland and that eventually caught up with him in the vital championship rounds as Marcus McDonnell halted proceedings in the 11th round.

Kevin Mitchell - July 16th 2011, Echo Arena, Liverpool

Arguably the domestic fight of 2011. A brutal story played out over eight absorbing rounds as North and south collided in a fantastic civil war in front of a well-attended Echo Arena crowd. With both fighters aiming to prove that they deserved to be catapulted onto the world stage, the pair delivered an epic contest that swayed many ways before being decided by the Londoner’s ruthless accuracy. With Murray well in the contest, he walked onto to some telling Mitchell shots in session number eight and his familiar resourcefulness was unable to cope with the attacks coming his way. Mitchell was the victor but Murray earned plenty of plaudits in defeat.

Brandon Rios - December 3rd 2011, Madison Square Garden, New York City

In Murray’s only world title tilt to date, he was truly up against it as he tackled fellow entertainer, Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios for the vacant WBA lightweight strap. Murray’s task was made more daunting when the hard-hitting Californian came in overweight. Despite the size disadvantage, Murray gave the job a solid go and proved to many doubters that he was certainly no pushover at elite level. With Murray well behind on all three cards, third man, Earl Brown, made a compassionate intervention in round eleven to prevent the Brit visitor from taking any further unnecessary punishment.

 

 

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