Boxing In Britain: Murray Retains European Title Over Kudryavtsev

At the Robin Park Centre in Wigan, England, Matchroom Sports and Hennessy Sports co-hosted a night of boxing which headlined John Murray’s first defence of his European Lightweight Title against Andriy Kudryavtsev of Ukraine.

Both boxers trade shots in the opening round and both slip through each others guard between the gloves. Each man snaps out the left jab but the mood changes briefly as Murray scores with the body-shot in the final minute of the opener.

Round two, they continue to trade punches toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring but Murray has the better work-rate. Both boxers start to mix their shots up a bit in the third as they throw right hooks and body-shots and still they continue to ‘slug it out’ centre ring.

Murray looks the stronger and busier, but Kudryavtsec stands firm. It’s a strong finish for Murray at the end of the frame.

It looks a closely fought and gruelling contest at the mid-way point.

By the end of the eighth, Kudryavtsec is caught by a number of head-shots and begins to tire. He comes back with some punches but his arms look heavy.

Round nine and Murray gains in confidence – forcing his Ukrainian opponent on the back foot. Kudryavtsec looks sapped of energy as Murray continues to drive him down.

Murray piles on the punches – finally landing a right hook which sees Kudryavtsec stumble and Referee Manuel Oliver Palomo jumps in to stop the contest with just twenty one seconds of the ninth round remaining.

John Murray retains his Title and improves to 30 wins (18 by KO) no losses – he now has his sights set on a World Title fight before Christmas. Kudryavtsec drops to 34 wins (15 by KO) 8 losses (2 by KO).

Other results included:

Joe Murray (Manchester) v Richard Szebeledi (Hungary)
6 Round Super-Bantamweight Contest

Szebeledi did well to survive the first round, so it was no surprise to see him out in the second! Murray wins by TKO Round 2 and improves to 8 wins (4 by KO), while Szebeledi drops to 7 wins 13 losses (6 by KO).

Paul Truscott (Middlesbrough) v Zsolt Nagy (Hungary)
6 Round Super Featherweight Contest

Trussy wins on points and improves to 15 wins (1 by KO) 2 losses (2 by KO) while Nagy drops to 15 wins (7 by KO) 18 losses (3 by KO).

Albert Sosnowski (Brentwood) v Paul Butlin (Melton Mowbray)
8 Round Heavyweight Contest

Sosnowski wins by first round TKO and improves to 46 wins (28 by KO) 3 losses (2 by KO) and 1 draw, while Butlin drops to 12 wins (3 by KO) 12 losses (5 by KO).

Phill Fury (Manchester) v Terry Adams (Birmingham)
4 Round Welterweight Contest

Fury wins by TKO Round 2 and improves to 7 wins (2 by KO) while Adams drops to 6 wins (2 by KO) 15 losses (9 by KO) and 1 draw.

Prince Arron (Droyslden) v Mihaly Kotai (Hungary)
6 Round Light Middleweight Contest

Former ‘Prizefighter’ winner – Arron, wins by Round 6 TKO and improves to 20 wins (3 by KO) 3 wins (2 by KO) and 1 draw, while Kotai drops to 36 wins (16 by KO) 5 losses (1 by KO) and 1 draw.

Josh Wale (Barnsley) v Yoan Boyeaux (France)
6 Round Bantamweight Contest

Wale wins on points and improves to 11 wins (5 by KO) 3 losses (1 by KO), while Boyeaux drops to 6 wins (2 by KO) and 2 losses.

Kid Galahad (Sheffield) v Ian Bailey (Slough)
6 Round Featherweight Contest

Galahad wins on points and improves to 4 wins (1 by KO) no losses, while Bailey drops to 5 wins 6 losses (1 by KO).