Abraham Edges Murray By Split Nod, Retains Title

Arthur Abraham and Martin Murray were true to form over the course of their 12-round super middleweight title fight - which meant good news for the champ and yet another letdown for the hard luck challenger.

Abraham overcame a traditional slow start to finish strong and prevail by split decision Saturday evening at TUI Arena in Hannover, Germany. 

Murray opened up the contest fighting like a man well aware of what it takes to win on the road. Abraham is a noted slow starter, well on display as the visiting challenger was constantly first to the draw during any given exchange.

A right hand shot by Murray briefly stunned Abraham to begin round three, although it seemed to have an adverse effect. The defending champion shook off the blow, covering up and playing possum in hoping to lure Murray into a trap.

It didn’t work, but did allow Abraham to take control of the fight in round four. The local favorite put together a brilliant stretch in the middle rounds, with Murray’s workrate dramatically decreasing. His ability to absorb was all that was keeping him in the fight, as Abraham closed the gap and connected with several right hand shots upstairs. 

Murray used that very weapon to swing momentum back in his favor in round eight. Abraham was briefly rocked early in the round and again in the final minute of the frame. The threat of a knockout never surfaced, but it certainly motivated Murray to let his hands go far more than had been the case in preceding rounds. 

The fight appeared to be on the table heading into the final four rounds. A drop in workrate from both fighters left it anyone’s guess in round nine, but Murray put his best foot forward in round ten. The sequence didn’t at all sit well with Abraham’s corner, as head trainer Uli Wegner gave his charge a severe tongue lashing. 

Abraham responded, not only coming up big in round 11 but benefiting from a point deduction. Murray was warned several times earlier in the fight for excessive holding; one more clinch finally exhausted the patience of referee Benjy Esteves, who was correct in penalizing the visiting Brit. 

The two-point swing put Murray in a familiar place – momentum fading down the stretch in a championship fight. For whatever reason  that extra gear is missing from his repertoire, although he offered whatever he had left in the 12th and final round. 

It wasn't enough, as Abraham fought like a veteran champion determined to keep his title. He did just that, although the final scores were a bit all over the place. Murray was awarded a 115-112 nod on one card, but overruled by scores of 115-112 and 116-111 in favor of Abraham, who advances to 44-4 (29KOs).

The win marks the fifth successful defense of Abraham's second tour as super middleweight champ. The 35-year old boxer is perhaps in the twilght of his career, but remains a tough out and continues his remarkable career turnaround after being counted out years ago.

As for Murray, this could very well be last call for his title aspirations. The Brit comes up short in his fourth bid for alphabet hardware, the loss playing to a familiar theme in his career - fighting well enough to push a champ to the brink, but fading just enough down the stretch to leave his fate in the hands of others. 

All four career blemishes have come in title fights as he drops to 32-3-1 (15KOs). 

His previous trip to Germany resulted in a 12-round draw with Felix Sturm in their Dec. '11 middleweight title fight. He also came up short in separate cracks at middlewieght hardware in dropping a debated decision in April '13 versus Sergio Martinez on the road in Argentina, as well as the lone stoppage loss of his career as he was beaten into submission in 11 rounds at the lethal hands of Gennady Golovkin earlier this year.

The super middleweight title fight aired live on SAT.1 in Germany, Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and on A Wealth of Entertainment (AWE) in the United States.