Skip to main content

Murray eyes Geale for St. Helens showdown

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
Briton willing to challenge two-belt champion

Former world title challenger Martin Murray has immediately thrown his hat into the ring to face new WBA and IBF middleweight title holder Daniel Geale after witnessing the Aussie dethrone Felix Strum in Germany last night.

The St. Helens man, who pushed Sturm to a draw in December last year, has no problems in travelling to Geale’s backyard for the potential fight, but manager Neil Marsh believes that the fight could be huge on Murray’s own turf.

“Martin respectfully congratulated Geale and his team at the post-fight press conference on a fine performance and spoke to them with regards to making the Geale vs Murray fight,” Marsh told World Boxing News.

“He is willing to travel to Australia if needed to make the fight, however with Martin eyeing a sell-out hometown fight at his beloved St. Helens Rugby League Club’s Langtree Park, a possible 15,000 fans would pay to watch this spectacle and make this the better financial location to entice the well-travelled Geale to leave his country once again. 

“Geale is never scared to fight in anyone’s backyard and this gives the fight as a great chance of happening.

“Martin has tremendous backing from the rugby league team which makes it all more interesting with the rugby league connection of Australia and England.”

Geale, 31, pulled off a Murray-esque performance in Oberhausen last night to out-work Sturm and add his WBA belt to the IBF version he already possessed and the smart money may be on a home defence, before ‘The Real Deal’ considers his options.

The clash could have merits to happen in spring or summer 2013 to make it a huge outdoor event in Briton, although the WBA may want Geale to face ‘regular’ champion Gennady Golovkin following his impressive win over Grzegorz Proksa last night.

For Murray, there remains plenty of options in the interim, with a fight against Frenchman Julien Sainte-Marie said to be in the pipeline this year, leaving a challenge against Geale in 2013 a mouth-watering prospect.

Popular posts from this blog

WBN Remembers: "Gypsy Boy" Ernie Smith

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  (picure by boxrec.com)  After almost a year and a half without one of boxing’s great journeymen, World Boxing News is looking back at the 161-fight career of Worcestershire warrior Ernie Smith, concentrating on his contribution in the ring, rather than the tragic way his life ended out of it. Smith turned professional at super-featherweight in 1998 at the Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, losing a six rounder against Welshman Woody Greenaway.  One month later, Ernie was thrown in with an unknown prospect by the name of Gavin Rees (former world champion and current British Lightweight Champion) who he also took the distance over four rounds. The “Gypsy Boy” then managed to string together a four fight unbeaten run together in early 1999 and ended the year winning five out of his twelve contests, but by this time had already delved into the journeyman pool of boxers with a record of 5-8-1. After settling at the welterweight limit, Ernie ga...

Ashley Theophane talks US return, Ricky Burns sparring and future fights

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Treasure’ training for August 24 return Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane is aiming to put the disappointment of his loss to Darren Hamilton behind him when he makes his comeback in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 24. The 31 year-old, who has fought some of the top fighters between 140 and 154lbs, planned to take 18 months out of chasing his world title dream to win a British Lonsdale belt outright and just fell short with points defeat to Hamilton in May after making two defences. The Londoner is now returning to the US to re-establish his headline status on American soil. He fights for the 38th time in his career against an opponent yet to be named at NC Music Factory’s Reelworks Studios and is currently preparing to get back to winning ways. “Training has gone well for this fight. I've been in the gym for nearly nine weeks so I'm in great shape and ready to go,” Theophane told World Boxing News. ...

WBO #4 Orlando Cruz comes out as the first openly gay boxer in history

Orlando Cruz, a professional boxer from San Juan Puerto Rico (18-2-1, 9 KOs), former Olympian and currently ranked No. 4 Featherweight by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), is announcing today that he ”Is a proud gay man.” Cruz is the first openly gay man in boxing history.  “I’ve been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself,” said Cruz.  “I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career.  I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican.  I have always been and always will be a proud gay man.” Orlando Cruz began boxing at the age of 7 and posted an amateur career record of 178-11.  He won 7 Puerto Rico National Title's and spent 4 years on The Puerto Rican National Team.  Cruz won 7 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze in various international tournaments.  His amateur career culminated as a representative of the 2000 ...