Exclusive - Murray to fight for vacant European title after Mezaache vacates

John Murray’s painstaking wait to challenge for European honours will continue following European lightweight champion Anthony Mezaache’s decision to relinquish his title. Murray will now contest the vacant European crown against a co-challenger to be determined by the EBU.

The unbeaten Murray, who last fought in October when stopping Jon Thaxton to retain his British title, has been waiting impatiently on the sidelines for confirmation of a date and venue for his European challenge to Mezaache. In the meantime, the Manchester slugger has had to endure the frustration of seeing domestic rival Kevin Mitchell defeat previous Murray-target Breidis Prescott and steal a march on his quest for world honours.

Mezaache’s reasoning isn’t clear but the Frenchman’s decision could suggest that he is about to challenge for the WBC lightweight title. Reigning WBC champion Edwin Valero has been made “champion in recess” by president José Sulaimán after sustaining a nasty cut in his recent title defence against Antonio DeMarco.

This rather bizarre ruling will see the WBC lightweight championship being declared temporarily vacant to allow other boxers to contest the title whilst Valero’s injury heals in the interim period. Mezache, currently ranked at two by the WBC, could be paired with Humberto Soto for the “vacant” world title.

Hopefully, the identify of Murray’s European co-challenger will be decided within the next few days. Kevin Mitchell, who is lining up a WBO title challenge to Michael Katsidis, is ranked at 1 by the EBU. Ukrainian Andrei Kudriavtsev is ranked at number 2 whilst reigning Commonwealth champion Lee McAllister, who Murray stopped in January 2008, is currently ranked third.