Ladbrokes.com Fight Night

Watch Pro Box Live from the National Stadium on RTÉ Two and worldwide on RTÉ.ie from 9.00pm on Saturday, 22 March. 

Boxing fans are in for a treat this Easter weekend as the Ladbrokes.com Fight Night comes to the National Stadium in Dublin.

The main event on Saturday, 22 March will see Irish middleweight champ Matthew Macklin do battle with former World Champion Yori Boy Campas, while the under card sees Andrew Murray put his Irish welterweight title on the line against James Gorman.

For Macklin, his fight with Campas represents a major step up in class having moved up a weight in 2007 after losing a bruising encounter with Jamie Moore for the British light middleweight title. Ahead of the Easter Saturday bout on the South Circular Road, he has already had three straight stoppage victories.  

Campas has shared the ring with some of the modern greats including Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Tito Trinidad. Incredibly his fight with Macklin will be his 103rd outing as a professional with the Mexican warrior having turned pro at the age of 15.

In his 20 year pro career he has compiled an amazing record of 91 wins (73 of them by KO) and just 11 defeats and picked up the World light middleweight title along the way.
 
Now 36 Campas is determined to prove that he still belongs at the highest level but Macklin who will have new trainer and former two weight world champ Buddy McGirt in his corner in Dublin believes that an impressive win will bring his title ambitions into sharper focus.

The Birmingham based Irishman said: ‘It’s a real step up in class for me and just what I need.

Campas is a very seasoned pro, you only need to look at the names on his record to see that. I won’t really be looking to stop him because when you look for the stoppage it never comes.

‘You have to be patient and anyway I want to get back to boxing a bit more. People forget that I was a very good amateur boxer and I need to get back to using those boxing skills.’ 

Andrew Murray is the current Irish Light Welterweight champion, but there were few signs in Murray’s childhood that a career between the ropes lay in store.

His early years were blighted by Perthes disease, a degenerative hip condition that left him wheelchair bound for extended periods. However by the exploits of Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank on the TV screens, the Cavanman dreamed about stepping between the ropes himself.

However Murray’s notions were discouraged by his doctor who insisted that if he boxed he would end up crippled for life before he reached 20.

The determined youngster ignored his advice and joined Cavan boxing club. Now 25 Murray is unbeaten in 9 pro fights and a reigning Irish Champion.

Murray though will be determined to steal the spotlight in his Irish title rematch with Gorman. The two men clashed for the first time last December when they met at the Kings Hall. Murray emerged victorious but he wasn’t particularly satisfied at the outcome given the circumstances of the win.

A clash of heads left Murray with a nasty gash over his right eye and unable to continue in the fourth round. Under Boxing Union of Ireland rules the decision went to the referee’s scorecard and Murray was awarded the win but he admits it was something of a hollow victory.

When you win you want to win in style so to win the way I did took a bit of the shine off it,’ said Murray.

‘You never want to win a fight on cuts so I still don’t class myself as the champion yet. Hopefully I can beat Gorman in Dublin and leave no doubts this time around,’ added Murray.

Murray is probably the quietest, most unassuming professional boxer you could ever meet. In a sport often dominated by hype and hysteria the Cavan man is refreshingly understated.

Regarded as one of the best kept secrets in the UK and Ireland, Murray is more than happy to let his first do all his talking. His amateur accomplishments certainly speak volumes for his professional prospects.

A three-time time Irish Senior Champion Murray was also a fixture on the International amateur circuit winning numerous Gold medals for Ireland at Multi Nations events.