By Lee Collier

‘Genius’ Joe Murray recently completed the seventh fight in a blossoming young career.  What made the night special for the youngster was the man he beat to keep his unbeaten run going.  That man was former three time European titleist Yuri Voronin.  Whilst Voronin may be entering his twilight years at 36 he has managed to take the likes of Bernard Dunne, Nicky Cook and current European featherweight champion Oleg Yefimovych the full distance.

Voronin managed to take Murray the full eight rounds in the 23-year-olds first fight of that distance and Murray feels the fight was just what he needed to help him develop.  “It was a good learning fight for me and not many people would have taken this fight at this stage of my career,” revealed Murray.  “It shows the character me and my team have and I am glad I did the full eight rounds, although it could have been stopped, and it’s only going to make me a better fighter.”

Murray feels that his decision to face Voronin after only six professional fights should earn him some respect.  “He has boxed for the European title three times and not many fighters would have taken him on after seven fights.  I don’t think any of the other Olympians would have fought someone like that,” opined Murray. 

“I think it showed a lot about my character, we give him a full six weeks notice, he knew what to expect and it showed we aren’t scared of fighting anyone.”

Whilst Murray may not have had everything his own way during the eight rounds, he still managed to win every round on referee Richie Davies scorecard.

“I won every round but there was clashing of heads and I learnt a lot at this time of my career.  I rocked him in five of the rounds but just didn’t put the finishing touch in but that will come with experience.  When the experience comes I’ll start finishing these kids off.”

Trainer Joe Gallagher, whilst happy with his young protégé, admits that the youngster lost his way in the middle of the fight.  “I thought the first two or three rounds Joe was perfect, he picked his shots well, shots he had worked on with Rendall Munroe and it had Voronin in trouble in round two,” explained Gallagher. 

“I told him at the end of the round that the job’s done and that he just had to go out and pick his shots and the jobs done and it was the worst thing I could say.  He lost his way in the middle rounds and there was a clash of heads in round four and Joe got a bad swelling under his eye that seemed to take him off his game before coming back strong in the last couple of rounds.  He strayed from the blueprint that we set down but it’s a lesson learned.”

After three recent knockout victories Gallagher had talked about a possible title fight for Murray during 2010.  Gallagher is still open to the possibility of a title this year, but realises that there is still a way to go for the former amateur star.

“It shows Joe he isn’t the finished article yet against the more experienced fighters and I said in an interview afterwards for Hatton TV that the title talk is off for now.  It’s easy to get caught up with the Olympians and trying to get title’s first,” opined Gallagher. 

“There is a possible chance Joe’s division could open up later this year and Joe got eight good rounds under his belt which will hold him in good stead later on.”