Champion Murray: Final victory the toughest of my career - 23/11/2008

PRIZEFIGHTER Middleweights Champion Martin Murray believes his final victory over Cello Renda was the toughest of his career.

Murray, 26, had defeated Joe Rea and Danny Butler before making a fantastic start to a thrilling final as he floored Renda in the opening round.

But the Peterborough fighter produced a spirited fightback as Murray had to draw on every ounce of strength to seal a split decision win to take the trophy.

“You have to give Renda credit for the way he came back as I dropped him in the first and I thought I had got him and stopped Cello Renda, one of the favourites,” said Murray.

“I then thought I would finish him in the second but he showed true grit and that made for a terrific fight – that’s what Prizefighter is all about. In the whole tournament that was the first time I’ve gone nine rounds as I’d only ever done six before.

“But I said I’ve got a good chin and I showed that as Cello is a banger and hit me with some flush shots. That was hard and I can honestly say that was the toughest fight of my life.”

Winning Prizefighter has proved a massive springboard for each of the winners from the three other events this year.

Belfast’s Martin Rogan was close to quitting boxing due to a lack of available fights but after winning Prizefighter Heavyweights 1 has a fight with Olympic gold medalist Audley Harrison later this year.

Sam Sexton, who won Prizefighter Heavyweights 2, has since claimed the Southern Area Championship, while welterweight winner Michael Lomax was offered a bout with former WBC Light-Welterweight Champion Junior Witter.

Murray, whose professional record now moves to 12 victories from 12 contests, is hoping Prizefighter changes his career.

“Apart from my baby boy Archie being born 15 weeks ago, this is the greatest moment of my life,” said Murray.

“The money is brilliant but it was never about the money. This was on prime time television and I have fought small hall shows in the north west so I wanted to go out and show what I’m about.

“Hopefully people will recognise me as a contender at middleweight and this opens a lot of doors for me.

“Look at what it has done for (previous Prizefighter winners) Martin Rogan, Sam Sexton and Michael Lomax and it has given them big opportunities.”

Despite his three victories and securing the biggest prize of his career, Murray still believed he could have boxed better and insisted there was a lot more to come from him.

He said: “After the first fight I felt ok, not 100 per cent but everyone said I looked good. “Then in the second one he (Danny Butler) wasn’t interested and was horrible to fight. When they said it was a split decision I thought they would give it to him with him being a southern lad.

“I’m my own worse critic and I wasn’t happy with some of my fights. In the first I was happy with the win but it wasn’t a 100 percent performance and in the second I was unhappy with the way I fought but that’s partly down to him. But I was more experienced so I should’ve known how to handle him.

“In the final I wasn’t boxing really sharply but it made it a good fight for the fans. I’ve always thought of myself as an exciting fighter and if there’s a chance of knocking someone out I will go for it and that’s why I went a bit crazy when I knocked Renda down.

“With the money I’m going to treat my girlfriend and I have a 15 week old son Archie so it’s just about looking after him. I’m not going to go too crazy so I’ll have a couple of weeks off then get back in the gym. Hopefully I’ll get an area title shot and then see what comes up for me next year.”