Murray marches on
26 March 2009 – By Kevin Byrne
Famed Belfast trainer John Breen feels Cavans Andy Murray can go anywhere once he commits himself to the professional code fully.
Murray overcame Daniel Rasilla at the O2 on Saturday last to claim the EU lightweight title on points. The European judges has a slight difference in opinion when scoring the bout. One gave it to Murray 119-109 while the gap closed with the other verdicts of 116-112 and 115-113.
Breen and his sidekick Eamonn Magee were the busiest men in the place for a period, having their charges Jim Rock, Murray and Michael Kelly in action on the trot. Kelly was disappointed to draw with Latvian Valentin Morozovs while Rock overcame Italian bruiser Alessio Furlan. And the three fights kept up Breens unbeaten record for 2009, something he aims to preserve.
But while there is hope that Murray, 26, can continue his progress, possibly against a Mick Hennessy boxer in John Murray or John Thaxton for major honours, Breen wants to see a little more in terms of power. And that power, he reckons, will only come when Murray and he iron out the kinks in his arsenal fully.
Breen said, He still boxes like an amateur, but still won a European (Union) title. He needs to come up to my gym and do pads, but he done 85 rounds of sparring before this.
He needs to sit down on his punches a wee bit, he comes up on his toes too much, so theres no power. Its been a good month. My intention is to go though the year unbeaten, I have a good team of boxers in the gym so I think I can do it.
On Kellys draw, Breen insisted the referee did not score a knockdown Kelly inflicted, and he also cut the Latvian.
I think Michael Kelly could have got the decision, he put the man down in the last round but the referee didnt score the knockdown – if he did, Michael won the fight, he added.
But hes still unbeaten, I just need to get him up in the gym for three weeks in a row for sparring. I was busy in there. I had three fighters on and they all came on one after the other.
Three changes of outfit too! So Im still unbeaten too and hope to continue it. There was some atmosphere tonight. Bernard Dunnes win tonight is brilliant for everyone in Ireland.
Everybody benefits from it.
