Gennady Golovkin stops Martin Murray in 11th round of WBA title fight

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/22/gennady-golovkin-stops-martin-murray-wba-middleweight

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Martin Murray’s quest for a world title at the third time of asking ended in disappointment but not embarrassment when he suffered an 11th-round stoppage defeat to the WBA middleweight champion, Gennady Golovkin, in Monte Carlo.

The St Helens boxer was not a match for the unbeaten Kazakh, who ended the contest in the penultimate round with a barrage of blows, to earn the 32nd victory of his career and 29th by knockout.

It was a brave endeavour by Murray as Golovkin took control of the contest from the outset and kept up his impressive record of winning all of his world title fights by stoppage.

Both fighters made a tentative start to the fight, with few punches thrown in a cagey first round. It was a different story in the second, however, as Golovkin backed Murray on to the ropes and unleashed a fierce uppercut to Murray’s chin.

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Murray responded with a couple of counter-shots but they did not appear to trouble the world champion.

Golovkin found a way through Murray’s defences towards the end of the third round with a swift left-right combination that shook the Englishman but the bell sounded before the Kazakh could go in for the kill.

Golovkin smelled blood and Murray was doubled over in pain with 50 seconds of the fourth round left after his opponent caught him with an almighty shot to the stomach before forcing a second count moments later with another fearsome uppercut.

Murray, with blood streaming from his nose, regained some composure in the fifth but Golovkin inflicted further pain just a couple of seconds from the bell with another powerful right.

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Golovkin upped the ante again in the eighth but left his assault a little too late and time ran out just as the champion appeared to be penetrating Murray’s defences for a finish. Murray fell to the canvas once again, but this time he had lost his balance.

Murray’s defences remained steadfast in the ninth and, although he was visibly tired, so too was his opponent and Golovkin could not find the knockout blow when he manipulated Murray on to the ropes.

Golovkin very nearly found it in the 10th, however, as Murray tried to duck away from a Golovkin haymaker but was caught on the side of his face.

A six-count ensued and the fight was over 50 seconds into the 11th round when the referee, Luis Pabon, stepped in to stop the fight as Golovkin unleashed a barrage of blows in the corner as Murray’s defences finally caved in.