Murray paired with Ukrainian for European crown

John Murray will contest the vacant European lightweight crown with Ukraine’s Andrei Kudriavtsev following former champion Anthony Mezaache’s decision to relinquish his title. The EBU has called for purse offers to be submitted by noon on Wednesday 24th March for the right to stage Murray-Kudriavtsev.

Murray, unbeaten in 28 fights, has seen his career momentum checked through having to wait over six months for his belated European title opportunity. A shortage of television dates (as Murray’s promoter Mick Hennessy strives to find a new backer following ITV’s decision to ditch Boxing at the back-end of 2009), and Mezaache’s own unwillingness to oblige Murray as the Frenchman stands on the verge of landing a WBC interim title shot, are chiefly to blame.

The 25-year-old Murray has been left frustrated on the sidelines since stopping Jon Thaxton to retain his British lightweight title in October. His overdue European shot, or any opportunity to step through the ropes for that matter, can’t come soon enough for the Manchester warrior. Murray is expected to box a ten-rounder against a selected opponent on a Showtime televised card at the Crown Coliseum in North Carolina on 19 March as a warm-up for Kudriavtsev.

The 33-year-old Kudriavtsev possesses a 33-7 record but lost four of his opening five contests upon turning pro in 1999. The Ukrainian unsuccessfully challenged Anthony Mezaache for the European lightweight title in July after conceding a close unanimous decision. Kudriavtsev had previously outpointed Mezaache on a majority verdict in November 2006.