St Helens prospect Martin Murray guns for the vacant Commonwealth middleweight title against Tanzanian tough guy Francis Cheka on the Ryan Rhodes bill in Sheffield this Friday, a title made vacant by Darren Barker.
The unbeaten Murray, 18-0 (6), has done everything right since turning pro in 2007. Promoted by Ricky Hatton, he cruised to victory in Prizefighter middleweight a year later and graduated to championship level with a clear decision over durable Ghanaian Thomas Awinbono last year. He came through a good test against Ukrainian Sergey Khomitski two fights ago.
Murray oozes class in the ring, picking his shots to head and body with hurtful precision. At 27 he looks ready to explode on Cheka, a rangy, fit-looking fellow who has been the distance in this country with former undefeated British and European middleweight champion Matt Macklin and current British super-middleweight king Paul Smith, losing widely on points both times. Cheka, 29, went the full 10 rounds with the heavy handed Macklin in Manchester in 2008, since when he has reeled off five wins back home.
At 19-6-1 (13), Cheka brings ambition, experience, durability and a touch of power but history tells us that, while he performs commendably and bravely, he does tend to drop the points on these shores. He was also outscored here by Liverpool-based Serb Geard Ajetovic.
Murray will be looking to go one better than Macklin and Smith, and his body shots could force a stoppage, but more likely is a comprehensive decision in his favour.
I have been to a few of Hattons promotions & the matchmaker seems to bring these Georgians over regular. Personally I am no fan of these imports who we know nothing about.
it's not a poor match.I expect murray to win & will be intrigued to see what style he does it in & if he gets beat i think it spells he wont exceed domestic level.
aint murray smaller then smith & macklin with cheka being a s.middle.
Whicker,
When are you ever going to stop moaning ?
If it's not the fighters that don't meet your criteria, it's the view in the Arena, if it's not the view it's the nasty fans.......
Give it a rest mate.
What's wrong, is Gordon Brown your grandad ?
twenty six wrote:Whicker,
When are you ever going to stop moaning ?
If it's not the fighters that don't meet your criteria, it's the view in the Arena, if it's not the view it's the nasty fans.......
Give it a rest mate.
What's wrong, is Gordon Brown your grandad ?
hurlock wrote:it's not a poor match.I expect murray to win & will be intrigued to see what style he does it in & if he gets beat i think it spells he wont exceed domestic level.
aint murray smaller then smith & macklin with cheka being a s.middle.
Nah hes not smaller hes quite a good size at the weight.
twenty six wrote:Whicker,
When are you ever going to stop moaning ?
If it's not the fighters that don't meet your criteria, it's the view in the Arena, if it's not the view it's the nasty fans.......
Give it a rest mate.
What's wrong, is Gordon Brown your grandad ?
When the quality of the sport picks up?
I was positive about the earlier Hatton shows- they seemed to be moving in the right direction.
I'm just posting my honest opinion- I check boxrec to see whats coming up, and more often than not my reaction is disappointment.
But fair enough, I appreciate that your are in a different position from me.
hurlock wrote:it's not a poor match.I expect murray to win & will be intrigued to see what style he does it in & if he gets beat i think it spells he wont exceed domestic level.
aint murray smaller then smith & macklin with cheka being a s.middle.
Nah hes not smaller hes quite a good size at the weight.
Murray is a big middle and Checka is only a middleweight. Me, Macklin and Geard fought him at middle.
Checka faded toward the end with all 3 and maybe with 12 rounds Murray could stop him. He is one tough f*cker though!
hurlock wrote:it's not a poor match.I expect murray to win & will be intrigued to see what style he does it in & if he gets beat i think it spells he wont exceed domestic level.
aint murray smaller then smith & macklin with cheka being a s.middle.
Nah hes not smaller hes quite a good size at the weight.
Murray is a big middle and Checka is only a middleweight. Me, Macklin and Geard fought him at middle.
Checka faded toward the end with all 3 and maybe with 12 rounds Murray could stop him. He is one tough f*cker though!
thought you fought him for wba bla bla belt at super M????
Just remember murry boxing as a skinny welterweight.i saw him at the crystal palace box off's & thought he was just a busy high rate fighter.Although i remember he came out of nick muscled up & boxed at l.heavy suspiciously as im allways suspicious of people(juice heads) that put on muscle while i put on fat :!:
Murray needs to get out more, after Prizefighter I thought he would go from strenght to strength and win the British soon after but it hasnt happened at all, he has fought journeymen. He needs to go for maybe Horton at Middleweight, or Paul Samuels.
