UK Boxing
Former British boxing champion jailed for disgusting attacks on two women
John Murray was jailed after two attacks on women. (Photo: Getty Images)
A former boxing champion has been jailed after assaulting his ex-partner and attacking another woman during a parking row. John Murray (41), from Levenshulme, Manchester, had a successful boxing career before injury forced him to retire in 2014. He fought notable opponents including Anthony Crolla and appeared on the undercard of the Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather world title fight in Las Vegas in 2007.
Murray, who started his own gym after hanging up his gloves, is now behind bars after attacking two women. Minshull Street Crown Court heard the former British and European lightweight champion worked in 2023 as a delivery driver. On January 20, he launched an unprovoked attack on a woman after she blocked her driveway.
The victim, who had two children in the back seat of the car, was punched in the face as she challenged Murray and another woman.
“How [the other woman] grabbed her by the hair, the defendant punched her in the face,” prosecutor Eleanor Myers said. “Her children were screaming, ‘Get away from my mom’ as her partner came to assist.”
Murray punched the woman again before leaving, hitting her car as he drove away. The severely shaken victim suffered a broken nose.
In a statement, she said: “It has changed me as a person. I don’t feel like I’m the same person I was. I can’t leave the house on my own anymore.”
Ms Myers told the court that on July 15, 2023, after separating from her former partner, Murray went to her home to discuss a family matter. Woken by raucous banging on the door, she looked out the front window.
“She didn’t see anything outside that would cause banging, so she turned her back,” the prosecutor said. “When she did this, the defendant climbed in through the window.”
“She fled the room and he followed her into the bedroom. He walked up to her and choked her with both hands around her neck. He held her for 45 seconds.”
Murray grabbed her by the hair and repeatedly hit her in the head. They ran downstairs and she was thrown onto the sofa by Murray, who jumped on her and bit her on the chest.
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John Murray after retaining the European lightweight title in 2010. (Photo: Getty Images)
After the attack, Murray stated: “Look what you made me do – look at your neck.”
The victim ran outside, shouting: “Come here, you b***h.”
An audience member stepped in. Murray tried to hit him twice but missed.
The victim had bruises to her chest, neck and face, as well as a cut to the back of her ear.
“This event truly shocked me,” she said in a statement. “I never expected it to be this horrible in my life and I hope I don’t have to again. I don’t feel protected in my own home.”
Mitigating, Isobel Thomas said Murray had a successful boxing career and was “admired by many”.
“His boxing career was cut miniature… after an eye injury,” she added.
“He was forced to find a novel career and it was a hard time for him. He opened his own boxing gym and that gave him purpose. Due to financial reasons, he had to close the boxing gym. He was struggling and felt he had lost his purpose in life.”
Murray, of Lichfield Walk, Romiley, previously pleaded guilty to strangulation; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; and attack by beating. He was sentenced to three years in prison and banned from contacting his former partner for seven years, provided he has a restraining order.
Murray retired from the ring in November 2014 at the age of 29. In April, he suffered a retinal detachment in his last fight against Anthony Crolla in Manchester.
Murray finished his career with a record of 33-3. He then trained amateur and professional players at his gym in Reddish, Stockport, before it closed.
Murray entered the world of boxing after stacking supermarket shelves and flipping burgers at McDonald’s as a teenager.
Ryan Rozicki is set to return to the ring tomorrow when he faces Chris Billam-Smith live from Bournemouth.
The Billam-Smith vs Rozicki fight will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Many people know “CBS” as he plans a successful homecoming run, headlining in Bournemouth for the first time since 2023.
He fights out of the Bournemouth International Center once again forced Mateusz Masternak to retire on the stool in the eighth round due to a rib injury.
Source: Boxxer
The Briton’s opponent before entering the competition remains relatively unknown, but his achievements tell the story of danger and a man who decided to tear up the script.
Rozicki boxes from Nova Scotia, Canada, and continues to train in his hometown. He spoke to professional boxing fans and revealed the biggest challenge his location poses to his boxing career.
He recently posted a video on social media highlighting one of the more unusual training methods he uses while camping in such a remote location.
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“There are no sparring partners there, no. If I want to spar, I have to travel.”
The Canadian has a devastating knockout rate of over 95%, which he added in his last outing less than three months ago.
He stopped Gerardo Mellado in the second round after dropping him twice earlier.
The 31-year-old is currently ranked number one in the WBC cruiserweight rankings.
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‘The Bruiser’ revealed his biggest inspiration growing up and how he emulates Jack Dempsey’s brutal and relentless style.
“Jack Dempsey. Brutal. Constant pressure. Damage.
“I have no interest in participating in a boxing match. I want to hurt my opponent.”
Despite such a high position in the WBC rankings, he surprisingly presented his goals for tomorrow night and the rest of his career.
Give me fights, give me large fights, pay me the most money and I will be there.
“I don’t focus on numbers, rankings, belts, anything.”
Rozicki had already tried to secure a fight with Billam-Smith.
The Canadian was ringside for his 2024 rematch victory over Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park and revealed what Ben Shalom told him about the pair’s fight two years ago.
“Ben said no one knows who you are and that you hit too demanding.”
While preparing to appear at Dana White’s first ever boxing gala in the UK, Rozicki also shared exactly how he sees the fight ending.
“One of my shots, from any angle, from any hand… he’ll go to sleep.”
The post “I’m not interested in belts” – Ryan Rozicki talks about the Zuffa Boxing switch appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
On Saturday in Sheffield, Josh Padley will defend his European super featherweight title against Aqib Fiaz for the first time.
Eddie HearnMatchroom is promoting the Padley vs Fiaz fight from Utilita Arena live on DAZN worldwide.
The pair were scheduled to fight on the undercard, but were later advanced to the main event Dalton Smith’s WBC super lightweight title defense against Albert Puello and then Galal Yafai’s clash with unified flyweight world champion Ricardo Sandoval was shelved due to injury.
Padley (18-1, 6 KO) won the vacant belt after a second-round stoppage of Jaouad Belmehdi in Newcastle in January.
The 30-year-old has won three times since a ninth-round defeat to Shakur Stevenson for the WBC lightweight title on four days’ notice.
Fiaz (14-1, 2 KO) is looking to break the script here and has won two in a row since an eight-round retirement loss to mutual opponent Reece Bellotti in 2023, whom Padley defeated by unanimous decision in October.
The 26-year-old last didn’t play 11 months ago, securing a unanimous decision victory over Alex Murphy.
Nadim-Sulaimaan will fight for the title of English champion
Ibrahim Nadim defends his English super featherweight crown for the first time against Ibraheem Sulaimaan.
Nadim (16-1, 2 KO) secured the vacant belt with a unanimous decision victory over Numan Hussain in November, and Sulaimaan (10-0, 5 KO) became the Midlands Area champion with a sixth-round victory over Nico Ogbeide also in November.
Undercard remaining
Middleweight Aaron Bowen (7-1, 5 KO) suffered his first professional loss to Tom Cowling in November, but can get back to winning ways with a stoppage victory over Troy Coleman (15-4-1, 7 KO).
Heavyweight prospect Leo Atang (6-0, 5 KO) can remain excellent by defeating Frenchman Fouad Shaili (5-4-2, 3 KO).
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Connor Mitchell (2-0, 1 KO) can improve his undefeated record by scoring points over Jesus Carrasco (2-4-2) at featherweight, while Chris Mulanda (2-0) can do the same against Connor Goulding (6-12) in their middleweight bout.
Adam Maca (5-0, 5 KO) and Edward Hardy (6-0, 2 KO) will return to the pitch against an as yet unspecified opponent.
The post Josh Padley vs Aqib Fiaz – Gigantic Fight Preview and Predictions appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Anthony Joshua won’t be leaving boxing any time soon.
Joshua returns to the ring on July 25 in Saudi Arabia against Kristian Prengi, ahead of a thrilling clash with long-time rival Tyson Fury in November.
The two-time world heavyweight champion was expected to potentially end his career after his long-awaited clash with Fury, but the 36-year-old insists he can continue for another four years, even opening the door to a potential clash with the rising 21-year-old heavyweight champion, Moses This is going to hurt.
“For me, maybe until I’m 40,” Joshua told reporters.
“It’s only been about three or four years.
“I’ll be 37 in October, so it’s only three years, it’ll go by quickly.
“Of course it will be challenging, but I definitely think I’m tough enough to do it.
“Why not, why not? I’m definitely more mature.”
“AJ” will fight for the first time since the sixth-round knockout of Jake Paul in Miami in December.
The Watford player took a break from the sport after he was involved in a devastating road accident in Nigeria 10 days later that killed two of his close friends, Latif “Latz” Ayodele and Sina Ghami.
Joshua, who met Prenga face-to-face earlier this week, said he strongly supports parents Ayodele and Ghami.
“You’ll never get over it, but you’ll gain perspective in life,” he said BBC Sport.
“Life sometimes teaches you humility. You never know your fate.
“As a soldier, I stand powerful in defense of their parents.
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“First of all, it’s not about me.
“I think it’s crucial to put parents first at this time.
“I will have time to grieve, but I know that right now my heart and mind say that their parents are my main priority.”
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Joshua’s fight against Prenga will take place at the Jeddah Superdome.
Fury, who retired in April to defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov, is scheduled to have another warm-up fight on August 1.
The post Anthony Joshua REVEALS when he will retire from boxing appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
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