Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
Murray keeps pace with champion in Mannheim
Felix Sturm is still the WBA ‘super’ middleweight champion
after another close fight in his homeland as the judges in Germany scored his
title defence against Britain’s Martin Murray a draw at the SAP-Arena.
The 32 year-old commanded the centre of the ring in the
first two rounds whilst Murray fought in bursts to keep the German on his toes
throughout the first six minutes in a tense start.
Murray then began walking through some of Sturm’s better
work to gain a foothold in the fight through the middle rounds and was never
out of the fight as Sturm battled to keep the challenger at bay.
After the mid-point, Murray, 29, seemed to continually press the title
holder although was kept off by Sturm’s world-class jab. The Mancunian was never flustered
or frustrated by the more rounded champion though and was fresh enough to come on strong
in rounds ten and eleven.
Sturm sensing the bout maybe close came out firing in at the
start of the twelfth but soon fell into a lull and allowed Murray back in only
to then return fire a barrage of shots similar to ending of the Macklin fight and possibly
take the last round.
The judges’ scorecards read 116-112 to Sturm and 115-113 to
Murray with the third seeing it 114-114 to hand ‘Leonidas’ his 36th
career win and his world title belt back for the twelfth time - the second in
a draw.
I saw the bout the same as Jean-Francois Toupin who gave it
to Sturm as the classier work in the closer rounds seem to come from the home
fighter, but take nothing away from the British champion though as he fully deserves a
return bout.