Rooney’s Boxing Gym: Ben Murphy Challenges For Southern Area Belt

Lightweight Ben Murphy (6(KO 3)-2-1) faces the toughest fight of his professional career when he challenges Southern Area Lightweight champion Lee 'Cooky' Cook (12(KO 3)-1(KO 1)-1) for his title at the Brentwood Centre, Brentwood, Essex on Friday 22nd January.

Murphy is clearly determined to take advantage, of the opportunity in front of him, and for the past month or so has been traveling to London, from his home in Hove, Sussex, on a daily basis to train with Brian Lawrence at Rooney's Boxing Gym in Southwark, South London.

Even the notoriously bad weather that has covered the British Isles over the past month only managed to stop the determined Murphy from making his daily trek just the once as he explained. "I'm totally focused on winning on Friday. The weather has been a pain but this is important to me. I lost one day last week, I just couldn’t get to London as all the trains were canceled.

Training has been going very well. I know everyone says training is going well regardless of if it is or not. I have been working hard and I'll prove the point in the ring."

As part of his preparations for his title challenge, Murphy enlisted fellow Rooney's gym mates; British Bantamweight Champion Ian 'Dappa' Napa, Super Middleweight Erick 'The Eagle' Ochieng and Light Middleweight Karol 'Dr KO' Ozimkowski, as sparring partners.

Following his final sparring session, with Karol 'Dr KO' Ozimkowski, turned to his trainer, Brian Lawrence, and simply said. "I'm ready to go to war with Cooky". A smiling Lawrence replied "I know".

Lee Cook vs Ben Murphy is on the undercard of Ian 'Dappa' Napa's British title defense, against Jamie McDonnell at the Brentwood Centre, Brentwood, Essex on Friday the 22nd January 2010.

Tickets for this top class show, priced £80 and £35 are available on line www.frankmaloney.com or 0871 226 1508