Andrew Murray is a professional boxer

Boxing

Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...

. Murray is the former Irish senior champion and currently fights as a professional in the Lightweight

Lightweight

Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....

 division. He is currently ranked number three in the EBU's European rankings.

Amateur career

At the age of ten, Murray began boxing as an amateur at the Cavan ABC. Over the next twelve years he won three All-Ireland Senior titles and two Ulster

Ulster

Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...

 Senior titles. Murray also represented in Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

 at national level winning a 4 Nations title

Home Nations

Home Nations is a collective term with one of two meanings depending on the context. Politically, it means the nations of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom...

 and three Gold medals for Ireland at the Multi-Nations tournaments. He also won the accolade of "Young Boxer of the Year" in 2003.

Professional career

Murray became frustrated after failing to qualify for the Athens Olympics in 2004 and so decided to switch to the pro ranks and relocate to London under manager Michael Helliet.

Murray turned professional in March 2005, winning his first fight at the King's Hall, Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

, County Antrim

County Antrim

County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...

, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

, in which he beat Welshman Jonathan Jones in a fourth round knockout on a card that included Jim Rock

Jim Rock

Jim Rock, nicknamed the Pink Panther, is an Irish professional boxer and current IBC middleweight and Irish super middleweight champion....

, Neil Sinclair

Neil Sinclair

Neil Sinclair aka Sinky is a professional boxer. He usually fights at light middleweight or the divisions either side.-Amateur career:...

 and Eamonn Magee

Eamonn Magee

Eamonn Magee nicknamed the Terminator is a former boxer who is now a trainer with the Breen Team in Belfast...

.

Murray, who fought out of St. Albans near London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

,won his first nine pro fights and three by knockout.
Having returned to his native Country and County to box, Murray signed a promotional deal with Brian Peters Promotions and moved to John Breen's gym in Belfast. Murray was nominated in the 'Prospect of the Year' category for the 2008 irish-boxing.com National Boxing Awards

Unfortunately, on the 5th of June 2011 he fought Gavin Rees of Wales and lost by Unanimous Decision. The Irish man fought well for the 12 rounds despite powerful punches coming from Rees throughout the fight.

Irish light welterweight title

Murray won the vacant Irish light welterweight title on 8 December 2007. This win came with a controversial stoppage in round 4, Murray's opponent, James Gorman

James Gorman

James Gorman VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....

 cut Murrays eyebrow area with what appeared to be head clashes. Gormans head made contact with Murrays face a number of times during the fight and the fight was stopped by referee David Irving in round 4. A rematch took place on the 22 March 2008, in the National Stadium, Dublin, Ireland. Murray successfully defended his title on the night.

Boxing Titles

IBA Irish Light Welterweight Title - 8 December 2007

IBA Irish Lightweight Title - 12 July 2008

EBU-EU Lightweight Title - 21 March 2009

External links

• Andrew Murray's Official Website