The lights went out on John Murray’s amateur schoolboy final, but the Manchester ace has promised to put Kevin Mitchell’s lights out in their Battle of Britain blockbuster showdown next month. Murray’s fight against James Richardson was stopped in the second round of their Schools ABA final in 2001 when rioting broke out at the Broadway Theatre, Barking, with the then Sports Minister Kate Hoey in attendance.
Earlier on in the evening, amateur star Mitchell received rave reviews over his superb performance, stopping Colan Foreman in the final, and a fight with Murray was being talked about.
“Although my fight was a joke and got abandoned half-way through the second round, I made sure I watched Mitchell that night because he was the big thing in the amateurs back then. He was the big star and everybody raved about him going to the Athens Olympics.” said Murray.
“We were only a weight division apart so I felt that I would either meet him in the amateurs or later down the line in the pros.”
“In the end we didn’t meet as we both turned pro in 2003 and went our separate ways.”
“He was at super-featherweight and winning titles and I was winning titles at lightweight so it was inevitable we were going to meet sometime.”
Murray and Mitchell now clash for real on Saturday 9th July at the Excel London, in one of the biggest domestic showdowns in recent years, live on Sky Sports 1HD.
He added, “I can’t wait to finally get Mitchell on July 9. It’s been a long time in the making and a victory will really propel me into the public consciousness.
“The lights may have gone out on my fight in the school boy finals, but I promise that Mitchell’s lights will be put out at the Excel.
“This will be the best John Murray you are going to see, no excuses, I’m going to do a real job on Mitchell.
“The winner is promised a world title fight next and it’s been my dream to fight for that so I’m letting Mitchell get in my way.”
Tickets for North ‘n South are available now, priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150 and £200, from 0844 844 0444 or ticketmaster.co.uk
OPENING BELL SET FOR 22nd ANNUAL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND IN CANASTOTA, NEW YORK
CANASTOTA, NY – JUNE 9, 2011 – The opening bell will soon ring for the 22nd Annual Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, June 9-12th. A huge gathering of boxing legends of yesterday and today has been assembled to participate in festivities in Canastota.
The four-day celebration will officially begin with the opening ceremony at 5 p.m. today (June 9th) on the Hall of Fame grounds. The weekend will also feature over twenty events including ringside lectures, banquet, golf tournament, 5K Race / Fun Run, the Parade of Champions and the Official Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 12th at 2:30 p.m.
Living inductees to be honored at the Official Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 12th are three-division champion Julio Cesar Chavez (Mexico), junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu (Russia / Australia), heavyweight champion Mike Tyson (USA), trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain (Mexico), referee Joe Cortez (USA) and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone (USA). Posthumous inductees will also be honored.
“The Village of Canastota and the Hall of Fame organization looks forward to welcoming boxing fans and from around the world for the annual celebration of the ‘sweet science,’” said Hall director Ed Brophy.
An impressive lineup of boxing legends of yesterday and today will participate. Among returning Hall of Famers are Carmen Basilio, Carlos Ortiz, Ruben Olivares, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor, Ken Norton, Gene Fullmer, Jake LaMotta, Don Chargin, Bert Sugar, Angelo Dundee, Lou Duva, Stanley Christodoulou, Jeff Fenech, Brian Mitchell, Michael Carbajal, Pipino Cuevas, Ricardo “Finito” Lopez, Carlos Zarate, Chiquita Gonzalez, Barry McGuigan, Azumah Nelson, Jose Sulaiman, Bob Arum and Wilfried Sauerland.
Other boxing celebrities include Livingstone Bramble, Marlon Starling, Leon Spinks, “Jesse” James Leija, John H. Stracey, Billy Backus, George Chuvalo, Al Bernstein, Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe, Erik Morales, Jimmy Lennon Jr. and Sergio Martinez.
Grand marshals of the Parade of Champions, scheduled for Sunday, June 12th, are the real life inspirations behind the Academy Award-winning film The Fighter, brothers “Irish” Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund.
For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 22nd Annual Induction Weekend please call (315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com.
Joseph Crosby Added To July 15 Albany, NY Boxing Card
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (June 9, 2011) – Welterweight prospect Joseph Crosby (6-1, 1 KOs) get’s back in the ring against Stephen Scott (7-2, 1 KOs) in a eight round fight for the vacant New York State light middleweight title promoted by Ares Promotions, on Friday, July 15th at Crowne Plaza in Albany, NY.
Joseph Crosby said “I wanted to be busier in the ring this year by fighting at least every two months but alot of fighters have been reluctant to fight me. “This opportunity came up to fight for the New York State light middleweight title so for this fight I decided to move up in weight.”
In his last fight on March 5, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey, Judah won by four round decision victory over Greg Hackett.
Joseph Crosby said “Winning the New York State title is a good step in my boxing career. I’m training harder than every because on July 15th I want all my fans to come to the fight and celebrate with me after I win my first of many pro boxing titles. I want to thank my opponent for taking this fight, my fans, my entire team and Ares Promotions for this opportunity.”
In the main event, Markus Williams (7-1, 1 KOs) will face TBA in a 8 round middleweight fight.