Exclusive Andrew Murray interview by Steve Wellings Mar 16th 2008

With the Mexican bandwagon rolling into Dublin next Saturday evening (22nd March) and Matthew Macklin working under a high profile new trainer, it is conceivable to overlook some of the talent plying their trade on the busy undercard - including hot prospect Andrew Murray. The chief supporting bout pits Cavan Town light-welterweight Murray with Belfast battler James Gorman in an Irish title rematch. The first bout ended unsatisfactorily on the Duddy-Eastman undercard last December, when a cut curtailed the action just as things were warming up. While no blame was apportioned to either party it was unbeaten Murray who walked away with the vacant strap on points, despite only 3 ½ rounds having been negotiated. “The Irish Boxing Union rules go the cards after three rounds but I don't know if that's any good but that's just the way it is,” shrugged 25-year-old Murray. “I think that I was going towards victory but I was a bit lost and annoyed at the way it finished but still relieved too at not getting beat.” The ending caused a great deal of head scratching both in and out of the ring but that will hopefully not detract from the prospect of another enticing dosage when the pair resume formalities on Brian Peters' next fight card. Murray for his part has been training hard to ensure he keeps hold of his latest possession. “The preparations are going well, I'm in good shape and the weight's fine. I just spent the last week ticking over, going through tactics and keeping the weight right and I'm happy with things so far.” When you go in with a fighter as fit as Gorman, it is imperative to be in good condition and fully prepared, something Andrew realises. “I've had sparring in my home town with a couple of heavier lads to work on my speed and getting pushed back, it's all for variation.” A former quality amateur, Murray boxed for Ireland and won three senior titles in a row before deciding to switch codes; he is under the tutelage of Paul Rees and manager Mick Helliett in St. Albans, England. Murray continued: “I boxed in the Olympic qualifiers but didn't quite make it, so coming up to age 22 and 23 I knew I always wanted to give the professional game a go. There's no time like the present and I didn't want to leave it too much longer.” A hip condition early in life may have hampered Murray's progress into the fistic profession but he made sure this did not halt his career, even though being pushed around in a wheelchair while his friends played football was frustrating. For Murray this all lies firmly in the past, with James Gorman and the Irish title defence being the only issue for the moment. “I would like to beat James Gorman and get a couple of international opponents under my belt and definitely a couple of harder eight rounders. It would be good to go for a big name or maybe the EU title so I can generally improve every time I get a harder task in front of me. It's tough to learn if you're boxing six rounders against journeymen all the time.” The talented Irishman describes himself as a “Box Fighter” to those who have not yet seen him fight and denies his three knockouts - from nine pro wins in total - equate to a lack of power. “I like to come forward and even though I'm not a devastating puncher I can wear you down and even if I'm not throwing punches I'm trying to close the distance and let the shots flow. “The big fight cards are good for up and a comer, especially with live TV involved and for any young boxer to get on those shows is good for the learning process early on in your career.” RTE will be filming at ringside so this will obviously provide fresh incentive for any aspiring fighter on the undercard to get themselves noticed. “We are going to be the chief supporting fight on the show so will get some exposure,” added Murray. It's always interesting to see a promising boxer in the embryonic stages of his career and Murray may well be a man destined for bigger and better things. All this will be moot if he loses and there is only one thing in the mind of Andrew Murray come March 22nd. “I didn't like winning (the first fight) in that manner and I'll be hoping to do it the right way this time,” he added in closing. “I was glad to get the result in the end and pleased that I won but it kind of took a bit of the shine off it (the manner of the win). I always aim to be in entertaining fights and provided I get the right result I can't see the Gorman bout being any different.”

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