By James Slater – In disappointing, exasperating news, it has been reported by a number of sources that the potentially thrilling Kevin Mitchell-John Murray lightweight showdown, looking all set for April 2nd, will not now be happening – at least not on that date. Frustration has set in for all concerned because there has been no official explanation as to why the fight, originally down as the chief support bout to Nathan Cleverly’s challenge of WBO light heavyweight boss Juergen Braehmer, has fallen apart..
On his face book page, a disgruntled Mitchell wrote that the fight is off due to “politics,” meaning of course, boxing politics. Fans everywhere who were looking forward to the European lightweight title defence by the unbeaten Murray against the once-beaten Mitchell desperately need more information as to why the potential domestic classic has gone down in flames. But thus far, there is no further info available.
As his fans know, Mitchell was to have his first fight back after being stunned inside 3-rounds by Australia’s Michael Katsidis in May of last year, and the fight with Murray was one the Londoner was applauded for taking – such a risky fight as it was for him. But now, unless the fight can be saved (and British trade paper Boxing News, via their website, are as in the dark the same as we are when it comes to why the fight has fallen through. But B.N suggest the fight “could be resurrected in the next few days”), both exciting fighters will have to look elsewhere for an opponent.
The main event, Braehmer-Cleverely, will still go ahead as planned at Wembley Arena on Apr.2nd (with Boxrec having Murray down now as still boxing himself, but against a TBA), and this fight is of good enough quality to be able to entice the fans to buy a ticket to the Frank Warren show. However, with Murray-Mitchell as a top supporting bout, the London show would have been a real five-star event.
Fingers crossed all issues, whatever they are, can indeed be ironed out, with the fight between the two 26-year-old’s to go ahead after all!