Cornavirus KO’s Murphy’s card- Joe Ward, Ray Moylette and Larry Fryers left without a fight
The Coronavirus has KO’d the Murphy’s Boxing St Patrick’s Day card set for Boston on Saturday meaning Joe Ward [0-1(1)], Larry Fryers [11(4)-2(1)] and Ray Moylette [11(4)-1(0)] won’t fight.
The trio – Moylette and Fryers against each other – where set to trade leather at the House of Blues in Boston, but the entire card has been cancelled.
It’s not the first card to be cancelled around the world or indeed the first sporting event.
However, it remains extremely hard on Ward and Moylette in particular.
Former amateur standout, Ward was hoping to register his first victory on the card having suffered a disastrous debut.
The Moate BC graduate suffered a freak knee injury when punching for pay for the first time against Marco Delgado in October- and having worked extremely hard to get back to full fitness was hoping to get his career going on Saturday.
Mayo’s Moylette will be equally frustrated as he hasn’t fought in over a year.
The last time the Pascal Collins trained fighter graced a ring was December 2018. Moylette was keen to throw leather again and finally put some distance between himself and his defeat to Christian Uruzquieta.
For both Moylette and Fryers it’s the second time they have seen the fight fall through and it means neither will win the career boosting New England title this weekend.
March 14th Fight for @raymoylette has been cancelled due to the Coronvirus here in Boston ! Gutted for @KenDKM @murphysboxing for all the hard work they have put in and to All the fighters who have trained hard for this event 🥊 https://t.co/ySukyU798D
— Packie Collins (@packycollins) March 12, 2020
On a more positive note the Top Rank card topped by Michael Conlan and populated by Matthew Tinker, Feargal McCrory and Paddy Donovan goes ahead at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden.
The ESPN broadcast St Patrick’s Day card goes ahead behind closed doors.
Conlan who made his professional debut in Madison Square Garden in 2017 is taking on 31-year old Columbian featherweight Belmar Preciado on his fourth visit to the venue.
The fight is said to be a step up that will lead to a world title shot for the Olympic medal winner.
Limerick’s Donovan, whose brother turned pro this week, takes an early step up to six rounds against Gregory Young, Tinker will be looking to make it three knockouts in a row against Esai Herrera in a four round light heavyweight clash, while McCrory makes his American debut against Juan Tapia.
