John Murray vs Lee McAllister also featuring new heavyweight sensation Tyson Fury vs Marcel Zeller official on-site programme plus ringside stubless ticket, billed England vs Scotland, 17th January 2009, Robin Park Arena, Wigan.

Condition mint

Murray W TKO 8
Fury W TKO 3

John Murray retained his British lightweight title with a brilliant eighth-round body shot to stop Scottish challenger Lee McAllister.

McAllister had started brightly but was dragged into a brawl by the Mancunian champion.

And Murray finished the contest a minute into the eighth round when a cutting left to the body winded the challenger from Aberdeen, who struggled to get back to his feet and saw referee John Keane step in to end the bout.

Murray, 24, claimed the title last year with a fifth-round stoppage of fellow Englishman Lee Meager and has long craved a showdown with fellow Lancastrian Amir Khan.

McAllister (27-1, 5KOs) has held both the little-regarded WBU lightweight and light-welterweight titles but was challenging for the Lonsdale belt for the first time.

He made an effervescent start without enjoying any tangible rewards as Murray's compact defence frustrated the Scot.

Murray was significantly more aggressive in the second, roughing his man up and landing decent combinations which culminated in a stiff straight right.

The Mancunian, boasting an unbeaten record of 25 wins (13KOs), controlled the third too but the round was not all one-way with McAllister finding his target with precise, if not powerful shots. Murray ended strongly, standing square-on in the corner and landing a series of short left and right hooks.

The fourth went McAllister's way as he reverted to skilful boxing rather than brawling with the champion.

Murray regained the initiative in the next, however, bloodying McAllister's nose with some good work at close quarters. Incredibly, McAllister was abandoning the gameplan again - and coming off much worse.

Trainer David Coldwell was furious with McAllister's tactics as he kept getting dragged into a battle.

Murray's aggression and rough tactics were building him a healthy lead heading into the eighth round as McAllister appeared increasingly deflated.

And the end came in the eighth when referee Keane waved it off after the Scot was floored by a sublime left hook to the stomach.


Murray, who is hoping for a shot at European champion Jon Thaxton, said: "When I fight opponents as good as Lee it brings out the best in me.

"I kept my head, I didn't lose my cool and I think I kept it together today and broke him down steadily. I wanted him to fight my fight."

Murray, who still craves a clash with Khan, said: "If Khan wants to fight I'll knock him out in two rounds."

McAllister was gracious in defeat and insisted he fancied another crack at Murray.

"That was a 10-out-of-10 body shot, it was a cracking shot," the Scot told ITV4. "I showed I belong in this class, he is one of the best pound-for-pound British fighters.

"It wasn't my night, it was his. I want a rematch but I don't think he does!

"I wish him all the best, he's the best fighter I've fought and probably the best I'll fight in my career. He'd beat Amir Khan easily - I'd beat Khan too!"

Price: £10

Murray's 8th Round Knockout - Calls Out Thaxton & Khan

The Manchester lightweight has been marked out as one of the most promising young boxers in Britain and was rewarded by defeating Lee Meager for the British lightweight championship 11th July 2008, Robin Park Arena, Wigan.

Murray, former WBC Youth Title Holder, was nominated the 2006 Boxing Writers Young Boxer of the Year. Manchester City fan Murray believes the experience of boxing twice in Las Vegas in the last year has made him a better boxer. Murray boxed on the undercard of Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather in 2007, and then the night before Ricky Hatton vs. Floyd Mayweather in December 2007.