Robbie Murray

Last updated

Robbie Murray
Robbie Murray.jpg
Statistics
Real nameRobert Murray
Nickname(s)Casper or The Flurry
Weight(s) Welterweight
NationalityIrish
Born (1976-08-18) 18 August 1976 (age 46)
Dublin, Ireland
Stanceunknown
Boxing record
Total fights6
Wins6
Wins by KO1
Losses0
Draws0
No contests0

Robert "Robbie" Murray (born 18 August 1976 in Dublin), nicknamed "Casper" or "The Flurry", is an Irish professional boxer in the welterweight division. Murray has now moved to the welterweight but all of his fights as a professional were fought in the welterweight division. [1]

Contents

Background

Murray was born into a large family from Palmerstown, west County Dublin in 1976. Robbie Murray is a cousin of Irish hip-hop artist Ste V Roc and Irish Middleweight champion Jim Rock. [2]

Murray is promoted by Brian Peters and although a native Dubliner, Murray, like his cousin Rock, is trained by Jim Breen and fights out of the Breen Gym in Belfast along with Eamonn Magee and Neil Sinclair. [2]

Murray is also an author who has penned novel. [3]

Amateur career

Murray boxed as an amateur at local, national and represented the Irish national boxing team at an international competition. He also enjoyed victory professional James Moore. After seeing the success of his cousin and after coming through a good experience sparring with "Shamrock" Shea Neary this convinced Murray that he had the skills to become a professional. [4] [5]

Professional career

Debut

Murray then turned professional in November 2001, winning his first fight at the National Boxing Arena in Dublin, in which Murray beat fellow debutant Paul McIlwaine on a card that included Steve Collins and Eamonn Magee.

Both novices showed that they lacked but also showed their grit and determination in this scrappy and untidy bout. In the fourth round Murray cut McIlwaine badly over his left eye and the referee stopped the fight in the following round by the referee giving Murray a stoppage win in his first outing as a professional. [6]

Carlin fight

In February 2003, Murray faced Welsh boxer Dafydd Carlin on the undercard of the Neil Sinclair and Jim Rock v Takaloo bout. [5]

The fight took place over four fiercely contested rounds at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast. Murray got off to a great start when he knocked Carlin to the canvas with a sweeping right hook in the first round and also dominated the second. Carlin came back strongly in the third round to trouble Murray. However, Murray knowing that with the knockdown in the first round Carlin would require a knockdown or knockout of his own to gain a draw or victory covered up in the final round to take the win by 38–36 on the scorecards. [2] [5] [7]

The Flurry beats Senior

Murray then travelled train and spar at Frank Maloney's "Fight Factory Gym" in London. Murray returned from his time in London enthused and his trainer, Jim Breen, was sure Murray was ready to step up a level. Murray was to return to the ring on 30 October 2007 to face unbeaten Scottish fighter Ronnie Nailen at the Ulster Hall in Belfast. However, Murray was forced to pull out of the fight due to injury and was replaced by Glenn McClarnon. [2] [8] [9]

Murray's trademark, which earned him the nickname "the flurry", was his hand speed and solid punch. He displayed this speed in his first fight after a gap of over a year in his impressive win over Nottingham's Nigel Senior at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on 30 May 2004.

Murray began by attacking the head and body. Although Senior appeared to hold and cover Murray showed his speed and wasted few punches connecting flurries to the body. Senior was on the canvas in the second round though the referee, Emile Tiedt, adjudged it a slip. Senior was again on the canvas in the third but this time it was called as a low blow but Murray finally floored Senior legally in round four but Senior picked himself up once more to continue to the final bell and survive this one sided contest to finish which Murray won by 58 points to 56 points to extend his unbeaten run. After the fight Senior acknowledged that Murray was "a good kid, awkward to fight and he's got fast hands". [10]

Ceri Hall fight at the National Stadium

Murray's toughest contest of his career came on 19 February 2005, at the National Boxing Stadium in Dublin against Ceri Hall.

In what had become a familiar pattern Murray commanded the opening of the fight on workrate alone, throwing bunches of punches while Halls individual shots were heavier they were too infrequent. [11]

Murray maintained his busy pace using height and reach advantages in the second round when Hall suddenly caught Murray sending Murray to the floor, for the first time in his career, in a flash knockdown. Despite rising quickly, Murray appeared dazed but by the end of the round Murray had returned to his busy style. In the third round Murray, with blood streaming from his nose, appeared more respectful of Hall's power and Hall seemed to be dictating the pace and tempo of the fight.

At the end of the third round, Murray's trainer, John Breen instructed to increase the workrate, which he duly did, taking the fourth and fifth on sheer punch volume. In the sixth it was Murray's turn to floor Hall with a right, left combination, which even the tally in terms on knockdowns.

In the final two rounds both fights tired and in the eighth and final round referee David Ervine docked Hall a point for holding. At the end of the fight the Belfast ref scored the bout 77–75 in favour of Murray which again extended his unbeaten record. [11]

Irish title victory

On 14 May 2005, Murray was due to fight Hartlepool's Alan Temple for the vacant Irish Light Welterweight championship National Boxing Stadium in Dublin on the undercard of a Bernard Dunne fight. Murray had wanted to face London based Galway Olympian, Francie Barrett but he stated ""I know Francie will want this title but unfortunately negotiations broke down this time....but I know he will not want anyone else to have it"

In any event Murray faced another London based Galwegian the former British Southern Area Lightweight title holder Peter McDonagh for the belt. Murray was a comparative novice in the professional ranks in comparison to McDonagh who was an experienced campaigner having already faced the likes of Peter Buckley, Chilli John and David Burke, whereas Murray had never been past eight rounds. [12]

In the opening rounds Murray dominated McDonagh with a higher workrate and McDonagh appeared content to counter punch. Through the middle round McDonagh began to stand firm against Murray's onslaught of flurries. Murray's high workrate left his defence open at times which McDonagh began to take advantage of.

Towards the latter rounds McDonagh appeared to fade and become ragged, however, Murray's fitness told as he was able to continue his marauding style, pushing forward and making his superior workrate count.

The tenth and final round highlight the desire that both men had to win an Irish title. A fresher looking Murray still seemed to gain the upper hand in the exchanges to finish the fight strongly. Belfast referee Sean Russell scored the fight 98–94 to give Murray the Irish national title.

Murray was then presented with the belt by former professional, Sligonian, Vinny Feeney and then stated "I knew my persistent and aggressive style would catch up with him eventually. He was tough though, he worked hard throughout and it was an eye opener for me and just what I needed at this stage in my career". [3] [13] [14]

Move to welterweight

Murray has only fought intermittently since debut and a highly anticipated Irish title fight against US based Irishman Oisin Fagan has been cancelled as Murray has now vacated the Irish title and stated that he is moving up to the welterweight division. [15] [16]

Murray is currently ranked 7th in Irish.boxing.com's rankings of welterweights after up a division, however, as a light welterweight he was ranked number in the Boxing Union of Ireland lists in 2005. [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eamonn Magee</span> Irish boxer

Eamonn Magee is a retired Irish professional boxer who competed from 1995 to 2007, becoming the World Boxing Union Welterweight Champion in 2007. He also held the Commonwealth light-welterweight title twice, and challenged for the European light-welterweight and British welterweight titles. As an amateur, Magee won a bronze medal in the welterweight division at the 1992 World Junior Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Murray (boxer)</span> Irish boxer

Andrew Murray is an Irish professional boxer who held the Irish lightweight title, having previously held the Irish light-welterweight title also. He is also a former European Union lightweight champion, and has challenged once for the European lightweight title.

Damaen Kelly is a British former professional boxer from Belfast, Northern Ireland, who competed from 1997 to 2006. He held the IBO flyweight title from 2000 to 2001 and the IBO super-flyweight title in 2004, and once challenged for the IBF flyweight title in 2003. At regional level, he held the Commonwealth flyweight title from 1998 to 1999; the British flyweight title in 1999; and the European flyweight title in 2000. As an amateur he represented Ireland in the flyweight division, winning bronze medals at the 1993 World Championships and 1996 European Championships, and reached the quarter-finals of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, US.

James Moore, is a professional boxer. Moore currently fights in the Light Middleweight division although he fought as a welterweight during his amateur career.

Oisín Fagan, nicknamed "Gael Force", is an Irish former professional boxer based in Oklahoma City, U.S., who fought in the light welterweight and lightweight divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul McCloskey</span> Irish boxer

Paul McCloskey is a former professional boxer from Northern Ireland who competed from 2005 to 2013. He held the British super-lightweight title from 2008 to 2009; the European super-lightweight title from 2009 to 2011; and challenged once for the WBA super-lightweight title in 2011. As an amateur, McCloskey won a silver medal in the welterweight division at the 2003 European Union Championships, and was an Irish Senior amateur champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Thomas (boxer)</span>

Jeff Thomas is a British professional boxer.

Peter McDonagh is an Irish professional boxer.

Eamonn Loughran is an Irish former professional boxer who competed from 1987 to 1996. He held the WBO welterweight title from 1993 to 1996, successfully defending the title five times. At regional level he held the Commonwealth welterweight title from 1992 to 1993.

Henry Coyle is an Irish former professional boxer who competed from 2007 to 2013. As an amateur, he won the Irish welterweight championship in 2003.

Stephen Haughian is a professional boxer from Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Feeney</span> Irish boxer

Vincent Feeney, is a retired Irish professional boxer, nicknamed "the Sligo Kid", hailing from the Maugheraboy area of Sligo Town. For the majority of his professional career, Feeney fought in the bantamweight division but also competed at divisions either side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Rock</span> Irish boxer

Jim Rock is an Irish former professional boxer who competed from 1995 to 2009. He is the only boxer to have held the Irish title at four different weights divisions: light-middleweight, middleweight, super-middleweight and light-heavyweight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Gomez</span> British boxer

Michael Gomez is a former professional boxer who competed from 1995 to 2009. He was born to an Irish Traveller family in Longford, Ireland, spending his early years in Dublin before moving to London and later Manchester, England, with his family at the age of nine. In boxing he was affectionately known as "The Predator", "The Irish Mexican" and "The Mancunian Mexican".

John O'Donnell is a London-based Irish Traveller professional boxer who is a former holder of the Commonwealth welterweight championship.

John Francis Duddy is an Irish actor and former professional boxer who fought from 2003 to 2010. He challenged once for the vacant WBC Silver middleweight title, losing in his final fight to Julio César Chávez Jr.

Josh Kelly is an English professional boxer who has held the British light-middleweight title since 2022 and previously the Commonwealth welterweight title from 2018 to 2019. As an amateur competed in the men's welterweight event at the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2015 European Games, in which he won a bronze medal, representing Great Britain.

Conrad Cummings is a professional boxer from Northern Ireland who held the WBO European middleweight title twice between 2017 and 2019.

Blair Romero Cobbs is an American professional boxer who has held the WBC-NABF welterweight title since 2019.

"John" Wayne Hibbert is an English former professional boxer who competed from 2009 to 2017. He held the WBC International light-welterweight title twice between 2014 and 2016, and the Commonwealth light-welterweight title from 2015 to 2016.

References

  1. ↑ Boxrec. "Robert Murray". Boxrec Fighter Page. Archived from the original on 11 March 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2007.Boxrec Fighter Page
  2. 1 2 3 4 Tomas Rohan. "Robbie out to nail Ronnie". Irish Boxing. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
  3. 1 2 Tomas Rohan. "Murray claims first title and undercard roundup". Irish Boxing. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
  4. ↑ "Irish Boxing news – March 15, 2002". Irish Boxing. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  5. 1 2 3 "Undercard Report from the Odyssey Arena". Irish Boxing. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  6. ↑ "Team Ireland report". Irish Boxing. Archived from the original on 19 October 2006. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
  7. ↑ Tomas Rohan. "Carlin targets British title". Irish Boxing. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
  8. ↑ Boxrec. "2003-10-30 Ulster Hall, Belfast". Boxrec. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2007.Boxrec Fighter Page
  9. ↑ Chris Curry. "Fright Night Will Rock The Ulster Hall". Eastside Boxing. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  10. ↑ Tomas Rohan. """FightNight" at the Burlington"". Irish Boxing. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  11. 1 2 "Barrett, Murray and Hyland win on undercard". Irish Boxing. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  12. ↑ Tomas Rohan. "Macklin and Murray look to shine on Dunne undercard". Irish Boxing. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  13. ↑ Brendan Mooney. "Unbeaten Dunne ready for classy Ukranian[sic]". Irish Examiner . Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  14. ↑ "The Celtic Warrior Returns To Action For Ireland Fight Night". BritishBoxing.net. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
  15. ↑ "Fagan could meet Thomas in June". RTÉ. 24 May 2006. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  16. ↑ "Irish title joy for Fagan". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 6 May 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  17. ↑ Tomas Rohan. "Irish Champions". Irish Boxing. Archived from the original on 1 April 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.