If Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn has anything to do with it, his new signing Martin Murray will get a title shot at WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham before the year is out.
Abraham boxed in his 21st world title fight last weekend, winning his 4th encounter with Robert Stieglitz in Germany by 6th round stoppage to win their series 3:1, yet the now 35 year old war horse suffered a fractured jaw in the process.
Conversely, Britain’s Murray boxed in Manchester in his 2nd fight in three weeks since moving up to 168 lbs, stopping the visibly larger Mirzet Bajrektaravic inside five rounds to seal off his “easing into” the super middleweight division.
The two fights with new promoters Matchroom were following on from February’s 11 round battle with big-hitting Gennady Golovkin in which a brave Murray went out on his shield.
Abraham’s promoters, German heavyweights Sauerland Event, enjoy a good working relationship with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport, with both parties enjoying a joint TV rights deal that sees their shows jointly broadcast on Sky Sports in Britain and SAT.1 in Germany.
Today, when asked about a potential Abraham vs Murray fight for 2016 by one of his twitter followers, Hearn gave something of a clue when he succinctly replied;
“2015 even better” with a handy “perfect” emoticon.
Following Abraham’s fight at the weekend, Kalle Sauerland said;
“Arthur is a fighter personified. I expect him to be ready to fight again by October/November, defending his title in top condition.”
Where the fight would take place is uncertain, although the obvious favourite would be Germany, the champion’s adopted homeland.
Another Matchroom fighter, Paul Smith, twice travelled to Germany last September and again back in February, losing in back to back challenges to Abraham.
Murray is a well travelled fighter, having drawn in Germany against Felix Sturm in 2011 and was unlucky losing to Sergio Martinez in the champion’s Argentine backyard in his 2nd world title challenge in 2013.
He has also boxed in South Africa and Monaco – against Golovkin – and is seen by many as one of the most deserving active fighters yet to win a world title.
Twitter @Undilutepoison
