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Outstanding super featherweight prospect John Murray has signed a long-term promotional agreement with leading UK promoter Hennessy Sports. The 21-year-old from Manchester will now box exclusively for the promotional outfit, with his next outing scheduled for the undercard of Billy Corcoran’s clash against Carl Johanneson for the British super featherweight title at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on July 12th. Sky Sports televise.
“I am delighted to announce that John has now officially joined the team on a long-term basis,” began company head Mick Hennessy. “There has been a bit of speculation about his future and several other major promotional companies have attempted to sign him, but John has always been personally committed to Hennessy Sports so it was just a case of formalising that.
“It’s great to have him on board. John is one the most exciting prospects not just in domestic, but also world, boxing. Despite being only 21, he has already boxed in America and Canada where he won the fans over. He has an exciting style that every boxing fan appreciates. He has a never-say-die attitude and always gives 100%. I am proud to have a talent like John at Hennessy Sports and look forward to seeing him win genuine titles at all levels.”
In preparation for his six-rounder next month, Murray will shortly be travelling down with his trainer Joe Gallagher to the main Hennessy Sports gym in London to spar teammates Billy Corcoran, John O’Donnell and Lee Meager. According to Gallagher, he is already in sizzling form.
“John’s on fire at the moment,” he said. “Since he has known that he was getting his contract situation sorted out and that he would have Mick representing his interests, he has really got his head together. He’s got a new lease of life; it’s a new start. John Murray is a great product and now he has a promoter that will sell it properly on an ongoing basis.
“It’s a bit like he’s turning pro again, but this time it’s been done the proper way. He’s got a long-term contract and is being given notice for fights into the future. He is very upbeat, but he still realises that he has got to do the business in the ring so he is focussed on his training. He wants to prove to Mick that he is no longer a prospect, but a contender.”
Murray went a long way towards demonstrating that last time out, (December), when he made history by becoming the first ever-British fighter to win a WBC World Youth Title. After getting the better of eight rounds of extreme attrition, he rightly claimed a Technical Decision over teak-tough Colombian Nacho Mendoza when severe swelling to his forehead left him unable to continue.
In addition to giving him time to recuperate, the break he has taken since has also allowed him to finalise his future with Hennessy Sports.
“I’m chuffed to bits now that it is all sorted,” said Murray. “This is the first proper promotional contract I have had since I turned professional in 2003 and it’s with the company I always wanted to join. I can put it away in a draw now and know that everything on the promotional side of things is taken care of.
“It means no more headaches for me now, I don’t need to worry about the outside and can concentrate on the boxing. People have only seen 70% of me so far. I will be at a 100% now I am with Hennessy Sports.
“I know I can leave everything in Mick’s hands – I have seen the job he has done with Carl Froch, Lenny Daws, Lee Meager and Billy Corcoran over here and also seen what he has done for Junior Witter and Howard Eastman on the world scene. He can deliver on both sides of the Atlantic.
“I am looking forward to picking up where I left off –boxing on one of Mick’s bills. I have had a good rest, I feel fresh and now my contract is here, so its time to move forwards. I have a great team around me and for the first time I’m being given dates in advance with plenty of notice. I’m in a successful, stable environment where I can be focussed. That is going to make a big difference.”
