George Groves Wins Big Over Martin Murray & More…

By Donald “Braveheart” Stewart

It was heralded as the last chance saloon for both fighters but ended with a fight of the year contender tag as two of the biggest British warriors in their weight division laid it all on the canvass for their futures.
The younger George Groves, 24- 3, 18 KO’s, came in as the WBA international champion whilst the elder Martin Murray 32-4-1, 15 KO’s, was challenging, not just for that belt but for the opportunity to be back in the mix for a world title fight; for both this was belt, world recognition and pride.

We got a massively entertaining fight that saw both boxers defy the predictions of people like me who thought Groves would start hard, finish badly whilst Murray would take time to get going and finish strongly. The story went that Groves did start well and was motoring, Murray did take a while to get going and once he did he gave Groves some trouble. Groves did not, however wilt – in fact eh came back stronger in the 12th and final round!

His trainer Shane McGuigan has to take massive credit for getting Groves to a point in the fight where he was winning but also where he was keeping on top of things. This was a new Groves, this was a determined Groves and this is now a new 12 round fighter.
Murray, for whom this could have been a career ending fight came back at Groves in the 10th and 11th and there was the feeling that a knockout or stoppage could have been on the cards but a masterful 12th round from Groves – not a sentence we have written before – saw Groves take back the advantages and the initiative to close out the fight on a unanimous points win.

Next up for Groves HAS to be a world title fight. This was the WBA eliminator so he should be shouting from the rooftops to get in the ring for his 4th attempt at a world title.

I did worry that Martin Murray would announce his retirement afterwards but he didn’t. Murray proved what level he is still operating at and that is at world level. There are decent fights out there for him and I think it would be good to see him take on some of the lesser world level fighters before a 5th attempt is his. in this crazy world of boxing, with a decent manager and promoter, that could happen very quickly.

Whilst British boxing is clearly in love with itself as it has so many World titles in the island, there is a weekend where there is not much happening upon which for me to report. I am therefore casting my eye over a lightweight contest that should fascinate and worry a few of our UK based champions and contenders. Jamel Herring 15-0, 8 KO’s, takes on Denis Shafikov 36-2-1, 19 KO’s, on Saturday the 2nd July.

Former Olympian, Herring can hardly contain his excitement for the fight but the real excitement comes with, if he wins, the fact that there are bigger and better fights out there for him – perhaps even a British campion – we have two! Shafikov, meanwhile can similarly get his name back into the rings of people who can give him a better payday and a possible title.

Shafikov has already fought for a world title – he lost in 2014 to Miguel Vazquez 36-5, 13 KO’s, and in 2015 to Rances Barthelemy,25-0, 13 KO’s, both for the IBF lightweight belt. Herring fought in the 2012 Olympics in London, it’s not the pedigree of the past as the American boxing troupe that year was not known for medals. He goes into this fight against a very experienced opponent and though fighting for your country in amateur settings can see you travel the world it is Shafikov’s overseas experience that might just give the Russian the edge.

For WBA champion Anthony Crolla 31-4-3, 13 KO’s, or the WBO champ, Terry Flanagan, 30-0, 12 KO’s, their heads may not be turned Stateside to a fight that is not for world honours but I would expect the winner to be a name mentioned in the near future for either. As to who gets the nod this time round? Despite the 2012 Olympics being a bit of a flop, I reckon good pros came out of the American team and Herring is one of them though I would expect a tough night ahead for him.

[si-contact-form form=’2′]