Boxing Coverage on Sherdog.comArthur Abraham to Fight Martin Murray in November
WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham will defend his
title on Nov. 21 against Martin Murray. Sources close to the
promotion confirmed the news early Wednesday that Abraham will take
Murray on in Hannover, Germany, at the TUI Arena.
After struggling in Showtime’s brilliant Super Six tournament several years ago where he lost to Andre Dirrell and Carl Froch and then eventually came up short against pound-for-pound entrant Andre Ward, Abraham has been on a tear.
The German-based Armenian has gone 11-1 since the Ward defeat,
toppling quality opposition like Robert Stieglitz (thrice), Paul
Smith (twice) and Piotr Wilczewski. He scooped up the WBO title by
edging Stieglitz in March 2014 and has defended the strap four
times. His last defense came against rival Stieglitz (they’ve
battled four times in their career), where he stopped him in the
sixth in July.
“Martin is a very strong opponent,” Abraham (43-4, 29 KOs) said in a statement. “He has challenged for world titles three times before and on two of those occasions he should have won. He is a very deserving challenger and I think it will be a good fight. That is what the public wants to see -- the best fighting the best -- and that is what they will see on Nov. 21 in Hannover.”
Murray, who hails from the United Kingdom, seemed genuinely surprised that the fight will be happening.
“I am thrilled to have the chance to face Arthur for the WBO world super middleweight title,” he said. “I was shocked when Arthur agreed to the fight, it’s one he didn’t have to take so must he be confident but I am at my natural weight now and believe on Nov. 21 I will become world champion.”
Murray (32-2-1, 15 KOs) fought to a hotly-debated draw with Felix Sturm in 2011 for the WBA middleweight crown and then came up short against Sergio Martinez two years later when the Argentinean got him via decision. Murray had another crack at glory this past February, but pound-for-pound powerhouse Gennady Golovkin took him out in the 11th.
Murray has won three straight -- all by knockout -- since losing to “GGG” and in his most recent outing he clobbered Jose Miguel Torres in the fifth last month.
After struggling in Showtime’s brilliant Super Six tournament several years ago where he lost to Andre Dirrell and Carl Froch and then eventually came up short against pound-for-pound entrant Andre Ward, Abraham has been on a tear.
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“Martin is a very strong opponent,” Abraham (43-4, 29 KOs) said in a statement. “He has challenged for world titles three times before and on two of those occasions he should have won. He is a very deserving challenger and I think it will be a good fight. That is what the public wants to see -- the best fighting the best -- and that is what they will see on Nov. 21 in Hannover.”
Murray, who hails from the United Kingdom, seemed genuinely surprised that the fight will be happening.
“I am thrilled to have the chance to face Arthur for the WBO world super middleweight title,” he said. “I was shocked when Arthur agreed to the fight, it’s one he didn’t have to take so must he be confident but I am at my natural weight now and believe on Nov. 21 I will become world champion.”
Murray (32-2-1, 15 KOs) fought to a hotly-debated draw with Felix Sturm in 2011 for the WBA middleweight crown and then came up short against Sergio Martinez two years later when the Argentinean got him via decision. Murray had another crack at glory this past February, but pound-for-pound powerhouse Gennady Golovkin took him out in the 11th.
Murray has won three straight -- all by knockout -- since losing to “GGG” and in his most recent outing he clobbered Jose Miguel Torres in the fifth last month.
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