Murphy stops Owen in Southern Area title thriller

Hove’s rock-hard Ben Murphy successfully defended his Southern Area lightweight title at the Coronet Theatre in Elephant and Castle last night as he pressured and battered Tony Owen into painful defeat in four exciting rounds on a Hellraiser Promotions card.

The 5'3" Murphy, who beat current British champion Gary Buckland back in 2008, started off the fight by steaming into the unbeaten Owen. It was clear that he was able to get in very close, very easily and very often. The first was fairly scrappy with Murphy suffering a cut in the corner of his left eye which referee Jeff Hinds clarified in between sessions as a being from a punch.

Murphy appeared dangerous but over eager in the second. He was roughing Owen up well in close and received a warning from the third man for bringing his head up in close. Murphy didn’t heed the caution and had a point deducted later in the round. However, he was hurting Owen and not allowing him to use his natural reach advantages.

Tony, who had massive support at the close and intimate venue last night, started the third by jabbing sooner. But as the round progressed he was being bullied to the ropes as the short and powerful Murphy loaded up with big right hands which were only partially blocked. Owen showed plenty of heart in the latter part of the round as the contest evolved into a give and take affair, but it was baffling why such a tall and rangy fighter would seemingly allow someone so short and dangerous into punching range.

The end came after 2:03 in the fourth. Murphy was smashing the body and then moving the attacks upstairs. Owen was getting trapped and taking shots in the corner far too often. He bravely was trying to fight back but after a succession of hard right hands referee Hinds had no option to call a halt to what was one of the most action-packed Area title fights in recent memory.

Thamesmead’s Ryan Barrett scored his second straight victory after being upset by Geoffrey Munika in June as he scored a 77-75 points win over Bristol’s tall and rangy Dan Stewart over eight rounds in a well-matched contest. There was nothing in the contest over the first two sessions. Both men were boxing well and tactically. Neither man was fully committing but looking for openings in an educated and intriguing affair.

Barrett, who is scheduled to face former world champion Steve Forbes in January, took the third session on my card as his southpaw jab was connecting regularly and he cracked Dan with one especially hard right hand. The pair were so hard to split over the next two rounds. Stewart was scoring with neat straight hands which were cute if lacking in power. But Barrett was digging to the body and catching Stewart with his own southpaw right hands.

Ryan appeared to pull away on the cards over the last third of the fight. Dan, whilst still holding together his boxing, looked the more uncomfortable of the pair. He was seeking to hold more regularly and starting to take refuge on the ropes. The Bristolian, who is down to fight in Chippenham next week, more than played his part in a really high-quality nip-and-tuck affair.

In one of the most brutal first round finishes seen in a British ring this session, Dan Woodgate reminded everyone of the importance of keeping your left hand in position after punishing as he landed a ferocious combination to leave Paul Davis needing urgent medical attention at 1:57 of a cruiserweight affair that was scheduled for eight.

Paul was out before his limp body hit the canvas. His head cracked audibly against the surface of the ring which was disturbing and shocking to even experienced ringsiders. Luckily, Davis was able to leave the ring under his own steam after around five minutes of oxygen and assistance.

Marcin Marczak impressed in being both patient and clinical in stopping Tooting-based Bulgarian Danny Dontchev in the last round of a light middleweight four-threes. Marczak looks like one to watch. He was able to stay relaxed and pick his shots well for a two fight novice Danny was down in the second and then walked into a right hook two rounds later. He bravely rose but was unsteady on his feet in the neutral corner and the contest was stopped after 38 seconds of the round.

Pictures by Bernard Miller for BoxRec News