Murray ready to dig deep again

HAD Andrew Murray taken the medical advice offered him, he would never have donned a pair of boxing gloves. But, do date, he has won three national senior titles as an amateur and, as a professional, holds the Irish light welterweight belt.

His early years were blighted by Perthes disease, a degenerative hip condition that left him wheelchair bound for extended periods. However, the young Cavan lad was transfixed by the epic battles between the likes of Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn on his TV screen and he was desperate to step between the ropes himself.

Such ambitions, however, were discouraged by his doctor, who insisted if he boxed, he would end up crippled for life before he was 20. The determined youngster ignored his advice and joined Cavan Boxing Club. Now 25, Murray is unbeaten in nine pro fights and a reigning Irish champion.

He will put his light welterweight title on the line next week against Belfast’s James Gorman on the Ladbrokes.com Fight Night at the National Stadium in Dublin. The contest is the chief supporting bout to the clash between Irish middleweight champ Matthew Macklin and former World Champion Yori Boy Campas.

Murray though will be determined to steal the spotlight in his Irish title rematch with Gorman. The two men clashed for the first time last December when they met at the Kings Hall. Murray won but he wasn’t particularly satisfied at the outcome, given the circumstances of the win.

A clash of heads left Murray with a nasty gash over his right eye and unable to continue in the fourth round. Under Boxing Union of Ireland rules, the decision went to the referee’s scorecard and Murray was awarded the win. But he admits it was something of a hollow victory.

“When you win, you want to win in style, so to win the way I did took a bit of the shine off it,” said Murray.

“You never want to win a fight on cuts so I still don’t class myself as the champion yet. Hopefully, I can beat Gorman in Dublin and leave no doubts this time around.”

His amateur coach Brian McKeown, who coaches Olympic qualifier John Joe Nevin in the Cavan club, remembers Murray’s first day in the gym as an 11 year old.

“He was tall and gangly and you could see he clearly had a problem with his leg. He didn’t strike me as being special but what soon became apparent was how determined and dedicated he was. He actually lost his first fight but by the end of that season he was an Irish champion and he went on to win another three titles on the trot. In fact he was unbeaten for four and a half years in the amateurs.”

Murray took some impressive scalps in the unpaid ranks including current British Light Middleweight champion, Gary Woolcombe, who he stopped in two rounds. He also beat former British title challengers Femi Fehintola and Ricky Burns, as well as English amateur star Michael Grant.

After the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Athens Olympics in 2004, Murray decided to switch to the pro ranks and relocate to London under manager Michael Helliet.

“Andrew’s problem since going pro is that he’s been too good for his own good,” said McKeown.

“He’s sparred the best in the UK in the gyms there and everyone there knows how good he is so nobody wants to fight him. Thankfully the professional boxing scene is very healthy in Ireland now so Andrew has a chance to make a name for himself back at home again.

“Andrew’s a real inspiration for all the kids boxing in Cavan,” said McKeown. “He’s out running at 5am, into work for 7am and then he trains at the gym in the evening.

“He’s very popular in the area and travels around all the clubs here giving training sessions and helping out wherever he’s needed. You never want to look too far ahead but I think over the next 12–18 months with the right fights Andrew can start fulfilling the potential we all know he has.”