Manchester’s John Murray finally gets the chance to further his career when facing Gary Buckland for the European and British lightweight titles, live on Sky Sports Friday Fight Night from 10pm.
The hard hitting twenty-five year old has been dominating the domestic scene for far too long now and Friday’s challenge offers Murray the opportunity to showcase his talents to the wider audience.
A respected European strap would enhance the Englishman’s stock in world boxing and add some much needed weight to his belief that he belongs on a par with fellow countrymen Amir Khan and Kevin Mitchell.
The 5ft 8inch orthodox has enjoyed a fantastic career since first stepping foot in a professional ring in 2003 and a twenty-eight fight undefeated record has seen the popular puncher rise to number one in the British rankings, whilst enjoying a top ten berth in the global list. With knockout wins over the likes of Jon Thaxton and Lee McAllister already on his card, bookmakers believe the youngster is ready to prove his worth and Skybet offer a market best price of 1/12.
Potential party pooper, Gary Buckland isn’t given a chance by those in the know, with the vast majority of fight game experts believing this task has come just a little too early in the twenty-three year old Cardiff fighter’s career.
5ft 7inch orthodox Buckland boasts an admirable record of eighteen wins, six inside the distance, against just one defeat but the man nicknamed ‘Dynamo’ faces his toughest test to date in the form of Murray. The former Welsh light-welterweight king has travelled the twelve round distance only once but having boxed in February, he enters as the fresher fighter. A surprise 2008 points defeat at the hands of the inexperienced Ben Murphy remains the only blot on Buckland’s record but the Welshman makes the journey fully confident that he has what it takes to shock British boxing. Odds compilers obviously don’t share his enthusiasm and make the away fighter an 8/1 (Bwin) no hoper.
There is no doubt in my mind that John Murray is one of the most hurtful punchers currently doing the rounds on these shores, if not a concussive one, but we saw in his 2009 fixture with Lee McAlister that it doesn’t take a genies to out think him. When Murray eventually does make the step up in grade he will find it a lot more difficult to back opponents against the ropes and work the body but unfortunately for punters, Friday's encounter in Cheshire doesn’t represent that improvement.
Murray brings with him a 57% knockout average but Buckland has never been stopped in his five years as a pro and will be looking to remain elusive in the opening stanza. Four of Buckland’s last five have heard the final bell, meaning this bout clearing the 7.5 round mark looks like the value of the evening at 8/15 with Skybet.
John Murray has been out of the ring for six months now and will know all too well the value of a win to get himself back on track, so another inside the distance victory seems worthwhile at 4/6 (Boylesports).
