By Lee Collier
Earlier this year former World Amateur Championship bronze medallist and Olympian, Joe ‘Genius’ Murray made the step from the amateur ranks to the professional side of the sport. As with all the Olympians who turned professional there was a lot of pressure on the young fighter to perform, and so far Joe Murray has produced the goods.
Murray, 5-0 (2 early) signed a promotional deal with Hatton Promotions instead of going to a bigger, more established promoter. Murray’s career will be under the guidance of trainer Joe Gallagher, who also trains Joe’s older brother John, alongside the likes of Matthew Macklin, Anthony Crolla and Femi Fehintola.
On Friday night in Wigan, Murray improved his record to being unbeaten in five fights with a second round stoppage that was partially covered by Sky Sports. Whilst it was Murray’s second consecutive stoppage he was not fully happy with his performance.
“I wasn’t really happy with the performance but was happy with the finish and the second round. In the first round I wasn’t good, it was getting the ring rust off me and Brown was a bit heavier than me,” explained Murray.
Brown was drafted in last minute so Murray knew little about him. “I got told he was a banger so I expected him to come right at me and try and put me out but he was a runner and I got to grips with it. I’ve got a good team behind me and when I got back to the corner they told me what to do and it made me win the fight and knock him out,” declared Murray.
With five fights and five wins in his first year as a professional, Murray can be happy with the progress he has made so far. He is matched hard in sparring, having faced European champion Rendall Munroe, and Murray agrees that his first year in the pro ranks as been an enjoyable and successful one.
He said: “I am very happy with my first year, I have a good team behind with the Hatton’s, Kerry Kayes and Joe Gallagher. I couldn’t hope for anything more. I ended the season with a stoppage and you can see I’m learning a bit more as a pro as I stopped my last two opponents, one in the first and the other in the second.”
Trainer Joe Gallagher had a successful night, with his other protégé Anthony Crolla stopping, and possibly sending Michael Brodie into retirement with a third round stoppage. Gallagher give his opinion and thoughts on his young fighter’s performance.
“Barrington Brown is known as a bit of a banger and Joe went out there at short notice against his opponent with no knowledge of him. Joe was loading up on the big shots trying to finish it early, when he got back to the corner I told him to calm down and get back to boxing Brown,” revealed Gallagher.
“Joe was a world class amateur and I knew the power would come and lo and behold it did do. He stepped up nicely with a great right hand that started it, and then started going through the gears. It’s been a fantastic year for Joe Murray. He has had five pro fights and has won all five of them; he’s had knockouts in his last two contests. The power is there and that was as a super-featherweight tonight.”
Murray considers himself a super-bantamweight, yet has fought mainly against super-featherweights or featherweights. Gallagher too is keen to get Murray back to fighting at super-bantamweight.
“Let’s get him back down to super bantamweight, he’ll be a real monster and this time next year Joe Murray will be British champion,” claimed Gallagher.
“I’m not saying now, but in 12 months Joe Murray will be looking at having had 10 or 11 fights by then. He is a young active fighter and there’ll be a few openings come up at super bantamweight and Joe Murray will be in and around the mix.”
Whilst Gallagher realises the potential Joe Murray has and believes in his ability, he also realises that at the age of 22 years old time is on his side.
“Let’s take Joe slowly, slowly; he’s a young lad and there is no rush”, said Gallagher, “look at Matthew Macklin, he turned pro early, and he’s had disappointments along the way. Boxing is a learning curve and Macklin is now getting to his peak at the age of 27 and Joe Murray will not peak until he’s 25 or 26. If an opportunity comes up for Joe, we’ll look at it and sit down with Gareth Williams and Ricky Hatton and we’ll discuss whether it’s the right one for Joe. There’s a saying in the boxing business, ‘20 to learn and 20 to earn’, and Joe Murray is still learning.”
