Methodical Murray overcomes plucky Buckland to become king of Europe

John Murray (9st 8 6oz) shook off seven months of ring rust and frustration to finally end the resistance of Cardiff’s Gary Buckland (9st 8 12oz) in the eleventh round to capture the vacant European lightweight title at the Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes last night.

Buckland, who had absorbed some tremendous punishment throughout but repeatedly answered back, was finally rescued by referee Marcus McDonnell after he was shaken by a right hand, left hook and uppercut combination which backed him against the ropes. The official time was 1.46. Murray’s British title was also on the line.

Despite only having three weeks to prepare for this hastily arranged duel title showdown, both boxers produced an enthralling slugfest from beginning to end in what was quite breathtaking to watch at times.

Upon the sound of the first bell, Murray came out and targeted Buckland’s body which appeared a little fleshy. Buckland wasn’t prepared to be dictated too however and came storming back, forcing Murray onto the backfoot with some whipped uppercuts inside.

The pair went at it hammer and tongue in round two but Murray’s work was the more controlled as he managed to keep his composure inside the intense pressure cauldron, A big right rocked Buckland and a follow-up left hook from Murray suggested that the Manchester man was going to prove too powerful for his Welsh opponent.

Buckland’s tactics of taking the fight to Murray and denying him room were effective in patches. The Welshman was too eager though and paid the price for staying in a range too long and was shaken by a left hook from Murray who seldom wasted a punch.

After a whirlwind start, Buckland’s work was less frenetic in the fourth. He snuck home a right hand but Murray simply brushed it off and hammered Gary to the body to decisively win the round. Murray remained a picture of concentration in the fifth, his work was methodical and his punches were precise. John’s punches, while delivered purposefully, were a little slow at times and he was countered by a right hand, left hook from Buckland which snapped his head back.

Murray continued to target Buckland’s body but occasionally strayed low and received a warning from referee McDonnell in the sixth. John had now firmly established control and was starting to find his mark with right hands and uppercuts through the middle. Buckland, his face now reddened and swollen, tried valiantly to stay with the Manchester man but it was clearly becoming a struggle for him and he returned to his corner bleeding from his nose.

The seventh was another rampant round from Murray who seemed capable of stopping Buckland if he could move through the gears. I can’t make my mind up if Murray is controlled or a little paced one-paced on occasions.

Two left hooks sent blood spraying from Gary’s face as the Welshman was starting to work onto more shots. This was a pivotal session in the fight. Gary was no longer able to take the fight to Murray and was notably dropping off which allowed Murray to step forward and unleash his own artillery. In addition to his incredible bravery and work ethic, the Welsh challenger also displayed a cracking chin.

A big right from Murray almost dislodged Buckland’s gumshield in round eight and another right had him in trouble with his back to the ropes but the bell came to Gary’s rescue. Murray’s precise combinations and tight defence had secured him a commanding lead as we entered the ninth.

Buckland needed to produce something spectacular now but for all Gary’s qualities he unfortunately lacks a dig, as only six stoppages on his record will testify. Somehow he summoned the energy to give it one last go which coincided with his best spell of the fight since round three when he penetrated Murray’s guard with right hands. Gary continued to launch a mini-comeback in the tenth and a left hook briefly knocked Murray off-balance and made him stumble into the ropes in a more even tenth.

After two uninspiring rounds, Murray firmly put Buckland in his place in the eleventh to emphatically close the show. After measuring Buckland with the jab, John drilled home two right hands, an uppercut and a left hook which wobbled Gary and sent him to the ropes. Murray moved in to unleash some more heavy artillery but referee McDonnell decided that Buckland had absorbed enough punishment for one evening.

The stoppage was slightly premature and Buckland’s exertions arguably should have seen him rewarded by allowing him to hear the final bell. Undoubtedly though Gary had taken a battering and was never going to turn the fight around. The impressive Murray, who on this display looks capable of mixing in world class waters, advances to 29-0 (17) whilst Buckland lost for the second time in 20 fights.

Prince Arron marches on

In the chief support, Prince Arron (11st 2 70z), appearing in his first outing since his shock Prizefighter light-middleweight tournament triumph, overturned one of the four blots on his 21-fight copybook with an eight-round points win over Max Maxwell (11st 2). Referee Howard Foster’s 78-74 scorecard in Arron’s favour was fair but many of the rounds were close and had Maxwell managed to maintain his workrate throughout each session things could have been much tighter.

Maxwell had held Arron to a six-round draw in December and the opening two rounds tonight suggested that their rematch was going to be another tight affair. Maxwell made a decent start, catching the upright Arron leaning back with a right hand in the opener but was on the receiving end of a four-punch combination consisting of three rights and a left hook at the end of a close first session.

Round two was also difficult to score. Maxwell, as he was to do throughout the contest, enjoyed occasional success with the right hand which landed on Arron’s chin but failed to follow-up with anything decisive. As Maxwell’s intensity subsided, Prince picked him off behind the jabs and also picked some nice left hooks as Maxwell advanced.

Arron seemed a little flat early on. His jab lacked authority and he appeared to be only pushing his punches out. I awarded Maxwell the fourth on sheer workrate alone as he denied Arron room but the Birmingham man failed to target the body which could have seen his punches make a greater impression on the lanky Droylsden fighter.

Birmingham’s Maxwell, trained by Richie Woodhall, was clearly fancying the job but as he attempted to force the action he was shaken by an uppercut from Arron in the fifth. Max briefly held as he allowed his head to clear and finished the round on top by nailing Arron with a right hand as Prince appeared momentarily fatigued by his exertions earlier in the round.

Arron was tagged again by Maxwell’s right hand in the sixth which stopped him in his tracks. It was to be Max’s last major success in the fight however as Arron’s jab began to dictate proceedings. An excellent combination consisting of a jab, right hand and left hook bounced off Maxwell’s jaw which offered the first real glimpses of Arron’s talent that was clearly evident in Prizefighter.

Arron was warned for use of the elbow in round seven by referee Foster but had now effectively got Maxwell under control as the pace slowed. Some nice body shots and a left hook to the head was better variety from Arron who had mainly relied on his jab-right hand combination off the back foot in the main,

Prince received another warning from Foster in the eighth and final round, this time for pulling Maxwell round. The Prizefighter winner was soon back in his stride though and finished the fight impressively, landing the crisper, cleaner shots.

Arron is undefeated in his last nine since his stoppage loss to John Duddy in October 2007 and improves to 18-3-1. Maxwell, who produced a credible effort, is now 11-9-2.

Full undercard review from Widnes to follow.