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With two Irish titles to his name and a perfect record of 14 straight wins, Cavan star Andy Murray is ready to turn his attention to European affairs.
Murray will make a bid for the European Union Lightweight title at The O2 Arena, Dublin on Saturday, March 21 in a featured attraction on the Hunky Dorys World Title Fight Night.
A sensational night of boxing is headlined by Bernard Dunne’s challenge for the WBA World Super Bantamweight title against Panama’s Ricardo “Maestrito” Cordoba while Olympic heroes Kenny Egan and Paddy Barnes will also be in action alongside reigning World and European Champion, Katie Taylor, as professional and amateur boxing come together for a historic night of Irish sport.
Murray will lead the professional side of the undercard as he faces Italy’s Massimiliano Chiofalo with the European Union Lightweight title at stake.
The 26 year old from Cavan town won a Bronze Medal when he fought in the European Union amateur championships in 2003 but he’s confident that he can claim the top prize this time around in the pro ranks.
“It’s great to get a crack at the European Union title,” said Murray who currently holds Irish titles at both lightweight and light welterweight.
“It was actually an Italian that beat me in the semi finals of the amateur EU championships so maybe I owe them one now this time around. Fighting at European level in the pros will definitely be a step up for me but I feel I’m ready for it now.”
Chiofalo has lost just two of his fifteen pro fights and the winner of next months title fight could be in line for a shot at the full European Champion, Jon Thaxton.
Murray’s manager Brian Peters says he’s confident of delivering that for Murray should he be successful against Chiofalo.
“I believe Andy is going to be Irish boxing’s next big star,” said Peters. “He has tremendous potential and now that he’s 26 the time is right for him to start moving up through the levels and I think he has the ability to do that with ease. We’ll see how he gets on against Chiofalo but I’m confident that having delivered home advantage for him and with a stage like The O2 to perform on he’ll be on fire on March 21st.
“As well as winning the EU title, it would put him within touching distance of a crack at the full European champion, Jon Thaxton. I have a good relationship with Thaxton’s promoter Mick Hennessy and I’d be confident of delivering that fight for Andy when the time is right.”
While Murray is happy to be talked about in terms of a possible Thaxton fight he’s adamant that it will not distract him from the task at hand.
“I’d love a crack at Jon Thaxton at some stage, but I can’t afford to think about that right now,” he said. “I just need to focus on one fight at a time and if I do that and keep winning then I’m sure Brian will keep delivering these kind of opportunities for me.
“Thaxton’s a hell of a fighter and I have an awful lot of respect for what he’s achieved in his career. He’s awkward and very strong but if the chance came along, then of course I’d take that fight. At the moment though, I just want to concentrate on becoming EU champion. That’s the next hurdle for me and it’s all that’s on my mind for now.”
Murray had a perfect warm up for next month’s scheduled twelve rounder with an impressive third round stoppage win over Ali Wyatt on February 7. It was his first appearance under new trainer John Breen and Murray believes there is more to come.
“I was happy enough with my performance,” he said. “I hadn’t boxed since last summer, so it was a good fight to get me comfortable working with John and Eamonn Magee.
“I felt a little rusty early on and my timing was a little off but from the second round on I started to improve and it was good to get him out of there because he’s a tough lad and doesn’t get stopped that often.”
Murray will be back in Breen’s gym in Belfast this week as his preparations for March 21 ramp up. “John is such an experienced trainer and of course, Eamonn Magee brings so much experience from his own career so you couldn’t be in a better place to learn and develop as a fighter,” said Murray.
“The sparring up there is second to none as well because you have so many top pros in the gym to spar with like Paul McCloskey, Stephen Haughian and Kevin O’Hara.”
Murray will get a taste of The O2 atmosphere in a couple of weeks time as a paying punter when he goes to see Snow Patrol in concert there. “I booked tickets to see them on March 1st before I even knew about the title fight. It will be three weeks to the fight so I’ll get a good chance to sample some of the atmosphere then but I’d say it will be something else come March 21st.
“I was there for the press conference a couple of weeks ago and it’s a phenomenal venue. I’m really buzzing about fighting on such a big event and I just can’t wait for the fight. The fact that it will be for the EU title makes it all the sweeter.”
Murray vs. Chiofalo will be one of two Ireland vs. Italy clashes on the professional half of the bill. The second duel will pit Dublin’s own, Jim “The Pink Panther” Rock, against Turin based warrior Alessio Furlan in a ten round middleweight clash. It will be Furlan’s third business trip to Ireland and having been beaten by both Matthew Macklin and John Duddy, he will be hoping to make it third time lucky against the seemingly ageless Rock.
Meanwhile Bernard Dunne remains an underdog to take the WBA World Super Bantamweight title from Ricardo Cordoba in the main event with the champion a clear betting favourite.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys World Title Fight Night are priced from €50 and are available now from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie). Tickets are also available from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.
