Murtagh aims for fourth time lucky in Irish title quest

“The Irish title is my whole life,” states Lee Murtagh as he prepares himself for another crack at the title that has, thus far, perennially eluded him.

The Leeds-based super-middleweight has just come off the back of a busy 2011 where he's competed in five bouts, winning the last four. The only defeat came in January of that year against Anthony Fitzgerald, and that - perhaps predictably - was for the Irish title.

Murtagh's latest challenge will be on the 25th February at the unlikely location of Hove Town Hall after originally being pencilled in for a Gaelic championship fight in mid-March.

“Before fights I always like to go to Tenerife for a week of altitude training,” said Murtagh. “I was already doing that in preparation for the newly created Gaelic title. Then, when I got back in mid-January, this fight came up. I didn't think I'd get the chance to fight for the title again so I had to take it.”

With the belt left vacant by former foe Fitzgerald, Murtagh will this time be scrapping for it with a boxer 11-years his junior in fellow southpaw JJ McDonagh.

“It was strange how it came about. I read an article that said JJ was going to box for the Irish title but that he didn't have an opponent yet. So, straight away I got onto their people and that's how I got the fight. That's one of the advantages of being self-managed - you can always be flexible when an opportunity arises,” he explained.

In his last two attempts at the title, Murtagh has ended with a nasty gash on his forehead against Dublin's Fitzgerald. The first was announced a no-contest after a clash of heads in the second round, while the rematch also ended in some controversy when he suffered a cut in the same round, only this time the referee let the fight continue before stopping the contest in favour of the Dubliner in the seventh. In a strange twist, Fitzgerald is set to feature on the undercard.

Now, at the age of 38, Murtagh talks of being fit and free of the injuries that hampered his previous tilts at the title and has already had plenty of quality sparring under his belt – both at home and abroad.

“In Tenerife I was knocking out 10-12 rounds of sparring in the blistering heat with a 6'2" southpaw Canaries champion. Then when I've got back home I've been sparring with Zahid Kahut who's a 6'6" cruiserweight who's also a southpaw.”

At the time of speaking, Murtagh was also due to spar with Damon Jones, a promising welterweight set to turn professional.

While Murtagh has had 46 fights over the course of 16 years, McDonagh has only been active since 2009 with only six contests. It's set to be an an intriguing match-up between a battle-hardened veteran and an ambitious young prospect. Though the latter's six-inch height advantage may become an equally significant factor.

“This will be only his sixth fight so fair play to him for stepping up and fighting for the title. I've seen JJ box live at the City West Hotel when he lost to Tommy Tolan. But I think he had an off-night so I'm not taking anything for granted,” said Murtagh. “He's a fighter who likes to take the centre of the ring and is very upright. But I think that all the things I've worked on will be enough to beat him.”

The Irish super-middleweight title fight is being promoted by Brighton-based Assassin Promotions and takes place at Hove Town Hall on Saturday 25th February. Full preview to come...