BoxRec

Good fight!

I get the feeling that the end result could have been a different story had Murray kept to his game plan (which was clearly his intentions from his actions in the 1st). However, Murray resorted to his old style as soon as the going got tough, and as a result got beat in much the same fashion as in their first encounter. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out how to beat a fighter like Murray, but you can't take anything away from Graham Earl, who did exactly the right thing. But there ARE much smarter fighters out there in the lightweight queue.

I think Murray put too much into the first few rounds and blew himself out, as has been the case on previous occasions. So, that being said, where does Steve Murray go from here?. I know it's early days, and he should be granted a long rest to think about his options, but his face showed a lot of wear and tear in those 6 rounds, he didn't think about the distance in this fight, as is always the case with him; I think that is the reason why he hasn't crossed that line and actually won the title at 2 times of asking.

End of the road?

How much of this was down to the calming influence of Jim McDonnell being missing from the corner?. The corner seemed to go into panic mode once Murray was cut.

Kev

Murray started the fight well, showing a bit of good upperbody movement and a good jab, which I believe was his pre-fight plan. But like others have said once the battle hotted up Murray as most fighters do reverted to type. I'm not to sure if Jimmy Mac had been in the corner would have made too much difference to be honest.

The bad cut and swelling under the eye made things a lot worse foe Murray, up to that point I still fet he had a good chance of turning things around.

As for Murrays future? To be honest he is in danger of becoming an opponent to up and coming fighters if he carrys on, which is a shame for such an entertaining fighter.

Good post Dean, completely agree - although I don't think this is the end of the road for Murray, far from it infact. He showed a sharpness and skills that I have never seen from him and didn't look a shot fight. With his following he can easily muster up other opportunities. Without taking anything away from Earl (who proved himself a worthy champion last night), I think lady luck wasn't with Murray and the cuts certainly effected his concentration - maybe Jim MacDonell would have helped him to stay focused.

Although the cuts were bad, I'm not sure they were as bad as all that and telling Murray he's only got a round (when he actually went 3) didn't help matters. I thought CraigDocherty and Ricky Hatton have had worse damage.

[quote="Dynamite Dean Phillips"]Good fight!

I get the feeling that the end result could have been a different story had Murray kept to his game plan (which was clearly his intentions from his actions in the 1st). However, Murray resorted to his old style as soon as the going got tough, and as a result got beat in much the same fashion as in their first encounter.quote]

You seem to imply that he lost his way when 'the going got tough' meaning he slipped back into his old style out of habit when he was up against it. I disagree if I understand you correctly.

He went for broke (in a conscious effort) because the ref told him he had one round left. If he'd have been able to stick to his game plan (ie not been cut) he might have done better. In saying that, I think Earl would still have won.

I thought it was very close until the cut.... then there was only one outcome.
By the way did anyone see the heavyweight contest near ringside after the fight !!!

somerstown wrote:By the way did anyone see the heavyweight contest near ringside after the fight !!!

No, what happened?

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:

Dynamite Dean Phillips wrote:Good fight!

I get the feeling that the end result could have been a different story had Murray kept to his game plan (which was clearly his intentions from his actions in the 1st). However, Murray resorted to his old style as soon as the going got tough, and as a result got beat in much the same fashion as in their first encounter.quote]

You seem to imply that he lost his way when 'the going got tough' meaning he slipped back into his old style out of habit when he was up against it. I disagree if I understand you correctly.

He went for broke (in a conscious effort) because the ref told him he had one round left. If he'd have been able to stick to his game plan (ie not been cut) he might have done better. In saying that, I think Earl would still have won.

He did go for broke...but that's the way Murray has more or less always fought. The fact that the referee told his corner that he would allow just one more round may have prompted him to have more of a go, but his game plan really went out of the window after the first. He reverted back to his basic style of fighting before any sign of a cut, which is to have a right old tear up.

if he had done what he did in the first through every round, he would have stood a far better chance.

Good fight while it lasted. I'm pleased to say i picked the right winner, and the right round, so at least my assault on the prediction league got off to a decent start (it won't last though, my Tyson/Williams call was way off).

I agree with Stu, i think Murray is far from finished, although i feel that a decent break would be benificial. I don't think there is an awful lot to choose between most of the top five or six domestic lightweights, they all have their weaknesses, and because of this i still believe that Murray will be able to give any of the others a tough fight. Maybe he won't win against them all, but after watching last nights fight he'll pick up a few more wins before he's done.

Class fight between Murray and Earl. Earl deffo is a worthy british champ, he took some hard shots and kept coming. Murray will come again im sure.

Great fight but i'm still not convinced by Earl, fair enough he looked okay when he had a tough in your face opponent with minimal head movement in front of him to plant his shots (and that is by no means meant to disregard the efforts of Murray who is a warrior). But in both fights with Vanzie he struggled against movement and ring smarts and looked slowfooted and cumbersome, he will win in a tear up all day but someone with quick feet and sharp punches will have him tied up in knots. If only Murray had been able to stick to his early gameplan of box and move then this could have been an interesting encounter. When Murray went for broke and started a war then Earl had maximum success.

KOJOE90 wrote:

somerstown wrote:By the way did anyone see the heavyweight contest near ringside after the fight !!!

No, what happened?

Two fat old blokes having it............ very funny !!!

somerstown wrote:

KOJOE90 wrote:

somerstown wrote:By the way did anyone see the heavyweight contest near ringside after the fight !!!

No, what happened?

Two fat old blokes having it............ very funny !!!

Is it true Audley fights the winner?

KOJOE90 wrote:

somerstown wrote:

KOJOE90 wrote: No, what happened?

Two fat old blokes having it............ very funny !!!

Is it true Audley fights the winner?

Nah, negotiations broke down

It's about time Earl got some long overdue respect.

Murray gave Earl the sort of fight I expected first time round (the one where Graham blew Steve away). But it still wasn't enough, Earl stood up to it all and came back with even more and even floored Murray.

He's beaten Vanzie twice (I thought the first could have gone either way and had Earl nicking the rematch) while a lot of other lightweights are busy avoiding Bobby. Beaten Murray twice, emphatically and appears ready to take on anyone in Britain and I for one give him a fair chance of beating them all.

He's a good quality British champion how far he can go beyond this level, I'm not sure, but he's good to watch, respectful and a good pro. I wish Earl all the best.

I wish Earl all the best and congratulate him on his win. He's overdue one as Vanzie clearly beat him last time out.