St Helen’s Martin Murray has been pretty active since moving to 168 lbs and signing for Matchroom Sport earlier this year, with two outings against low-tier opposition in the last seven weeks already, yet the 3x world title challenger has now also been added to the September 5th show in Leeds, UK to fill the void left by Gavin McDonnell.
McDonnell will instead head out to the US to be with twin brother Jamie ahead of his WBA (reg) bantamweight world title defence against Japan’s Tomoki Kameda, and promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed he will have Murray included in a title fight on the bill.
“With Gavin travelling to Texas with his brother Jamie, I wanted to add a major addition to the September 5 card,” Hearn said to Sky Sports.
“Martin has already boxed twice on Sky Sports in the last seven weeks but this time he will step up the opposition in a title fight as he gears up for a shot at a world title at super middleweight.”
Murray has scored two stoppage victories over two low tier Eastern European fighters for his foray into the 168 lb division, the last of which was against Mirzet Bajrektarevic last month, and one very much doubts he will be fighting anything other than “more of the same” three weeks out from the show.
As for the “title fight” Hearns speaks of, expect a lightly regarded international or inter-continental type of strap before hopefully a big fight with IBF 168lb champion James DeGale can be arranged for late 2015/early 2016.
Hearn will also be keen to see the outcome of the upcoming Badou Jack/George Groves world title fight on the Mayweather/Berto undercard, as if the Brit can win Jack’s WBC belt, it opens up a host of possibilities for Murray in a talented “168 lb triangle” of world class British super-middles facing off against each other – not to mention up and coming Callum Smith and fellow Liverpudlian Rocky Fielding who are also snapping at the proverbial heels and looking to get in the mix.
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