Ringside Boxing: Martin Murray Vs Nick Blackwell

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The latest Hatton Promotions event on Saturday night saw some great fight action from it’s seven-fight card. The show at the packed Robin Park Sports Centre in Wigan included three Title Bouts and had a fantastic atmosphere.

At the Show, Ricky Hatton MBE was presented with a plaque by former Cruiserweight Champion – Glenn McCrory. The plaque represented Rick’s recent ‘European Promoter of the Year’ Award.

St.Helens boxer – Martin Murray, forced the retirement of Nick ‘Bang, Bang’ Blackwell of Trowbridge at the end of the fifth to add the British Middleweight Title to his collection.

Blackwell got off to a good start – looking nifty on his feet in this opening round. But popular Murray looked big next to the Trowbridge man and he ‘teased’ him with a couple of his trademark body-shots. Murray started to land more body-shots in the second frame and Blackwell sustains a bloody nose.

Mid-way through the third, Blackwell lands a head-shot a split second before Murray does. Blackwell is encouraged by his success and gains in confidence but Murray continues to dominate from centre of ring. Blackwells confidence increases again as he lands while Murray is backed on the ropes, but Murray doesn’t look fazed by it and Blackwell looks to be tiring.

Murray ‘ups’ the pressure in the fourth – landing more and more solid shots to the head and body while a bloodied Blackwell bravely calls him on.

Murrays shots are taking their toll as Blackwell looks untidy in the fifth and eventually he is retired by his corner at the end of the frame. Murray wins the British Middleweight Title and improves to

He also holds the WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight Title and the Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight Title.

Nick Blackwell’s record now stands at 8 wins (2 by KO) 1 loss (1 by KO).

Anthony ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla demolished last minute opponent – Herve de Luca of Belgium, in the opening frame to add the vacant WBA Inter-continental Lightweight Belt to his two Lightweight Titles.

Crolla landed two lefts to the body in the first minute of the opener – sending de Luca to his knee. Another left to the body, followed by a left to the forehead sees the Belgian on his knee again just moments later. He is then warned for a head butt mid-way through the round. Crolla continues with the body-shots but a real ‘cruncher’ of a shot to the body sends de Luca to the canvas with just twelve seconds of the first round remaining. He gets up for the count, but Referee Terry O’Connor stopped the contest.

Crolla wins the WBA Inter-continental Lightweight Belt and improves to 21 wins (9 by KO) and 2 losses. Herve de Luca drops to 16 wins (7 by KO) 6 losses (4 by KO) and 1 draw.

Joe ‘Genius’ Murray of Manchester, won unanimously on points against late opponent – James Ancliff of Aberdeen to win his first belt – the IBF International featherweight Title.

Murray scored 120-109; 120-110; 118-111, against durable, ‘have-a-go’ Ancliff who gave Murray a testing fight despite only having had 48 hours notice.

Murray improves to 11 wins (5 by KO) no losses, while Ancliff drops to 11 wins (2 by KO) 14 losses (3 by KO) and 2 draws.

Other results included:

Dale Miles (Alfreton) v Ibrar Riyaz (Reading)
6 x 3 Welterweight Contest

Southpaw Miles had his Albanian-born opponent on the canvas in the first round. The Alfreton man dominated the second round but Riyaz got in with a decent head-shot which Miles clearly ‘felt’. Miles proved too much for Riaz though who did not come out for the fifth round.

Miles improves to 11 wins (8 by KO) no losses, while Riyaz drops to 4 wins (2 by KO) 23 losses (2 by KO) and 1 draw

Chris Male (Dudley) v Dougie Curran (Newcastle)
6 x 3 Featherweight Contest

Dudley Boxer – Male, used the left jab with success and forced the retirement of Dougie the ‘Bullet’ who’s right eye was badly swollen in the third.

Male improves to 11 wins (2 by KO) no losses, while Curran drops to 5 wins 7 losses (2 by KO) and 1 draw.

Luke Blackledge (Accrington) v Adam Stretton (Swadlincote)
4 x 3 Super Middleweight Contest

Debutant Stretton had a nightmare first outing when he faced Lancashires’ Blackledge aka ‘Robbo’. Finding himself on the canvas in the opener – the shocked Shinfields boxer struggled to gain some composure in this first frame. But credit to him for getting himself together in the second and seeing it out to the final bell.

Blackledge wins on points 40-35 and improves to 3 wins (1 by KO).

Steve Jevons (Swanwick) v Jason Nesbitt (Birmingham)
4 x 3 Welterweight Contest

Jevs used the left and right to the head with success but didn’t have an easy ride against tough Nesbitt. Nesbitt used a neat little back-punch (he was sort of half-turning and punching behind) and as usual – gave it his ‘all’ proving a tricky opponent for the Swanwick man but he kept focussed to get the points win.

Jevons wins on points 39-37 and improves to 6 wins (no losses) while Nesbitt drops to 9 wins (6 by KO) 130 losses (11 by KO) and 3 draws