BoxRec

Another one of this Commonwealth "championship" match ups.

Cheka has been over here a few times, widely outpointed but Ajetovic, Paul Smith and Maklin.

He is tough, but nothing special. And he won't win.

I've nothing against these match ups, but don't think they should be billed as "title" or "championship" fights.

Not a great undercard, either, it has to be said. Can they find no better than http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer for Steve Foster?

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.

The guy ain't that bad. Took Macklin and Smith to points and took Stieglitz five rounds.

whatashambles wrote:The guy ain't that bad. Took Macklin and Smith to points and took Stieglitz five rounds.

Be honest, though, he's not going to win.

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 ?

whicker wrote:

whatashambles wrote:The guy ain't that bad. Took Macklin and Smith to points and took Stieglitz five rounds.

Be honest, though, he's not going to win.

Well how often are fights like that, most fights are the same, most of those on Saturday night were the same.

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.

whatashambles wrote:

whicker wrote:

whatashambles wrote:The guy ain't that bad. Took Macklin and Smith to points and took Stieglitz five rounds.

Be honest, though, he's not going to win.

Well how often are fights like that, most fights are the same, most of those on Saturday night were the same.

True.

I've nothing against the match up itself- just think that its not a very strong title fight.

jonp wrote:

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!

Murray vs Cheka is now off. Details of Murray's new opponent can be found here.

http://news.boxrec.com/news/2010/hearta ... -postponed

Smigga wrote:

jonp wrote:

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 :!:

Wrong again

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.

Someone like Darren McDermott would be a good opponent.

Murray is fighting Lee Noble tomorrow. If noble is in good shape should be a good fight.

Smigga wrote:Wrong again

eh or.

thank's.

REAL_DEAL wrote:Murray is fighting Lee Noble tomorrow. If noble is in good shape should be a good fight.

did the German opponent fall though.

Lee Noble is a decent boxer, and will have hometown advantage (or at least, gymtown advantage.)

I'd say Murray on points.