 |
|
|
Graham Earl silenced the critics who rounded on him following his two controversial wins over Bobby Vanzie with a sizzling sixth round stoppage over former nemesis Steve Murray to retain his British lightweight title at London’s York Hall on Friday night.
Earl had previously swept Murray aside in two rounds 18 months ago but was met by a more focused and determined competitor this time around. The challenger entered the ring in magnificent shape, a full pound inside the lightweight limit, having prepared for his second crack at the British title at New York’s famous Gleeson’s gym alongside stablemate Danny Williams.
There seemed to be a degree of truth in Murray’s pre-fight boasts that he was indeed a remodelled fighter as he established a good jab combined with uncharacteristic head movement in the opening round. Setting a frenetic pace, the tree surgeon traded massive hooks with Earl as both men wasted no time in getting down to business. A fired-up Murray seemed to take the champion by surprise and a crashing right hand stunned Earl, briefly knocking him sideways towards the end of a terrific first round.
Unlike their previous meeting, Earl was not having things his own way but displayed impressive composure in the second to take the sting out of Murray’s rampant bursts. A left hook dislodged the Harlow man’s gumshield and he was made to eat straight rights from Earl upon the resumption of the action. The Bethnal Green crowd were being treated to a old-fashioned British title dust-up and Murray’s noisy followers were on their feet at the start of round 3 when successive right hands staggered Earl. Murray continued to pour forward in a bid to land a punch that would spectacularly end the fight and his pressure seemed to be troubling Earl as the Luton man lost his footing.
But just when Murray threatened to take over he was suddenly hampered by a grotesque gash underneath his right eye. Referee Howard Foster consulted the ringside doctor before allowing Steve to continue but appeared to indicate to the challenger that he was only prepared to give him to the end of the round. Sensing he was close to defeat Murray went for broke, but having abandoned his defence a straight right promptly forced him to take a knee.
The writing was now on the wall as the gutsy Earl pressed home his advantage in round 4. A right-left drove Murray back in what were anxious moments for him. Slowly but surely the Luton champion had weathered the storm and was starting to dish out his own brand of punishment. A double jab from Earl opened up more damage, this time on Murray’s left eye as the Harlow’s puncher’s face was now a mass of claret. “One more round,” warned referee Foster as he leaned into Murray’s corner in-between rounds.
The brief reprieve seemed to boost Murray’s flagging spirits and a right hand followed by a left uppercut inside signalled his best work for some time. Earl retained his composure however and his tight defence rarely provided Murray with an opportunity to deposit one of his bombs onto the Luton man’s chin. Despite informing Murray that he was going to pull him out at the end of the fifth, Howard Foster elected to give him a final stay of execution. But the challenger was left in no doubt about the gravity of his situation when cornerman Terry Steward, standing in for trainer Jim McDonnell, echoed the official’s warning that he was only 3 minutes away from defeat.
Ironically, Murray was enjoying a decent sixth and halted Earl in his tracks with a jolting left hook. Once again the unbeaten champion absorbed the best Murray had to offer before reassuming control. And, after landing a booming right hand that crashed against Murray’s jaw, the referee had seen enough and led a dejected Murray back to his corner at 2.37 of round six.
“Steve Murray comes to fight and if he hits you clean you’re going. But I showed what a good chin I’ve got. I knew if I hit Murray, the same as any other lightweight, they’ll go but I couldn’t get up for Bobby Vanzie. But Steve Murray is a great fighter, I wouldn’t write him off yet,” said Earl in tribute to the Harlow slugger’s gallant effort afterwards.
He improves to 22-0 (11) and is only one notch away from securing the Lonsdale belt outright. In contrast it’s difficult to see where the beaten Murray can go from here.
Undercard highlights
Martin Power KO2 Delroy Spencer
Unbeaten bantamweight Power romps to his 15th straight win after halting the outgunned Spencer for the second time this year. The Irishman, currently fighting out of Camden Town, is set to contest the vacant British title in the autumn.
Neil Sinclair wpts 6 Craig Lynch 60-53
Former British welterweight champion Neil Sinclair gently eases himself back into action following an 18-month lay-off with routine win. Now 30, the Irishman is targeting Commonwealth and world title honours. He ups his record to 29-3.
Stephen Foster Jnr wpts 8 Jean-Marie Codet
English featherweight champion Foster advances his slate to 16-0 but fails to sparkle against Frenchman Codet despite scooping every round.
Tony Doherty wpts 6 Ernie Smith
Welterweight ticket seller Doherty moves to 9-0 but is taken the full route by the battle hardened journeyman Smith who has only been stopped once in the last two years. The youngster almost ended matters in the first though when a short right uppercut floored Smith who barely survived the opening round.
|
|
|
|
© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2004
|
By Ben Carey (July 31, 2004) 
