Chicago knockout specialist rocks up for a fight in Cannock

The poster is for Scott Murray’s show at Chase Leisure Centre on Saturday, September 13, writes Matt Bozeat.

Murray claims the show is “surely the best small-hall show ever” and that isn’t hyperbole.

Fighters on the bill include Sam Eggington, who’s won every major honour up to the IBO world title, and Craig Parker.

The 34-year-old has won all 20 fights inside two rounds to break into the world rankings – and has packed his bags to head to Cannock for fight No 21.

Murray explained how the fight came about.

“Frank Tate came to Stafford to defend his world middleweight title against Tony Sibson in February, 1988 and they needed a gym to train at,” he said. “They came to Stafford Town Amateur Boxing Club where I was training under Rod Woodward.

“I was 20 at the time, had around 30 bouts and (Tate’s coach) Jesse Reid liked the look of me.

“He saw me sparring and invited me to come over and train with him in Houston.

“The Houston Boxing Association was the first venture of its kind. They had a pro gym, physiotherapists, a dietician, a PR office and apartments where all the fighters stayed.

“It was backed by Josephine Abercrombie, who was one of the richest women in the world at the time.

“Jesse was the coach and Bob Spagnola the manager.

“There were a lot of world champions there, people like Orlando Canizales, Calvin Grove and Frank Tate.

“I was there for two months. They treated me like a king. They picked me up from the airport and put me in an apartment with the other fighters.

“I would go out for runs with Frank Tate at six o’clock every morning and there was some hard sparring.

“I decided I was better at pulling beer!

“I think Jesse was hoping I would stay over there and turn professional with him, but I had a lot of commitments. Dad had a nightclub and health club.”

Murray, who says it was while he was in Houston that he saw a sports bar that gave him the idea to open Bar Sport, headed home, but said: “A couple of years later Jesse brought Orlando Canizales over to box Billy Hardy and Jesse asked me to help out in the corner. 

“At the end of the fight, I had Orlando on my shoulders.

“We kept in touch over the years and when Jesse moved to Las Vegas I introduced him to the McKennas, Aaron and Stephen.

“They were training over there and I knew their dad Fergal so I put them in touch.”

Reid started working with the McKennas and also has Parker in his Las Vegas gym.

“Jesse said he had a fighter he wanted me to work with and Craig is keen to fight in the UK,” said Murray.

The UK will surely look forward to seeing him.

Parker has made short work of all his pro opponents to date – and says he won all 20 amateur bouts by knockout as well.

He made headlines around the world after Jake Paul controversially nudged him a place down the WBA rankings following his points win over Julio Cesar Chavez jr.