Caribbean & International                       boxing

This article was first printed in the Starbroek News. (Nov. 2000) After being involved in professional boxing for approximately 11 years welterweight Andrew Murray is hanging up his gloves and is satisfied about calling it a day. His decision was not made because of recent back-to-back defeats, one in August and the other earlier this month, but rather because of a deficiency of desire to continue. "When your heart is not in it you should let it go. My heart is not in boxing anymore. My retirement took effect after I fought my last fight. The desire is not there anymore. I know the time has come for me to move on. It's as simple as that," Murray said in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport. "The first thing you may lose is the desire to go out and train. Boxing is a hungry sport. You have to be hungry, go out there and train. You have got to want it more than any opponent. At this point I'm not hungry, it's like just going through the motions," said Murray. On the upswing since a sensational one punch knock out of previously unbeaten Michael Covington last year, Murray's career took a nose dive when he lost to World Boxing Union champion Italian Michele Piccirillo in August and Canadian Fathi Missaoui on November 3. A native of Albouystown, Murray was under the eye of veteran trainer George `Canchie' Oprecht at the Young Achievers Gym as an amateur where he won several medals for Guyana. On February 10 1990 he made a successful entrance to the professional ranks when he TKOed Alonzo Clarke in round four in Barbados. With equal swiftness he brushed aside Conrade Hunte before meeting nemesis Pascal David, the only person to defeat him twice. Murray fought David twice in less than three months. The defeats at the hands of David were his last in five years. Managed by Odinga Lumumba the Cancer-born southpaw rattled off 16 consecutive victories in the process becoming the only Guyanese to win a Commonwealth title in England. He also held the FECARBOX and Latin American titles before tackling clashing with Ghanian strongman Ike Quartey in 1995 in his first of two attempts at a world title. A gash over his right eye forced the referee to call a halt to the challenge in Quartey's favour in round three. The fight is looked upon as the lowest point since Murray's involvement in the sport. "My low point was when I lost to Ike Quartey. I could never regain the confidence and the momentum that I had. I tried for the next five years and couldn't do it. I just kept losing my desire to be in the sport." On a happier note the 29-year-old Murray confessed that defeating former world rater Kevin Pompey is his highlight. "The victory over Kevin Pompey will always stick out in my mind. It's in my memory as if it were yesterday. That was more or less the turning point of my career in terms of moving up. I was virtually unstoppable after that." Murray defeated Pompey in a classical 10-round contest at the then National Sports Hall on September 18, 1993. After whipping Pompey, Murray, one of a rare breed of local boxers who publicly announce their retirement, hurried to England where he TKOed hometown opponent Tony Swift in round six to take the Commonwealth crown. A seventh round TKO of Puerto Rican Moises Rivera in 1994 added the Latin American title to his collection. Murray, who held the coveted Sportsman of the Year award more than once, declared that he has no immediate plans to train fighters or promote bouts but would be there to assist young fighters. "Andrew Murray will always be around to assist, give advice or help in any little way our young boxers. What little knowledge I have of the sport is here for all my compatriots to make use of if they see if fit." He opined that quite a few Guyanese boxers should have already retired but he stopped short of naming any. "There are a whole lot of Guyanese fighters who I think should call it a day a long time ago. You can't fight for 30 or 40 years. I wouldn't want to call names but quite a few of them should say quit right now. Some folks may end up getting hurt," he warned. "On the brighter side Guyana has four world title prospects. Unfortunately I know it will be very difficult for one of them to win that coveted prize since boxing is governed by politics. I thought it was a fair sport but it is not. You win and lose before you even enter the ring. Sorry to say but it is going to be very hard for my countrymen," the former Commonwealth champion declared. Asked what advice he would give to young and upcoming boxers Murray responded that his suggestion is for all sports men and women. "Life is very challenging. You have got to go after what you want and be resolute about it. Education is very important. It is the key to success. If you have the chance stay in school. When you reach the age of 30 to 35 and the sport leaves you, you can turn back on education. A man can be a journalist until he is 90 years old. I can't box until I'm half of that age. Apart form not winning a world title I have achieved everything that boxing had to offer me. I'm gratefull to the sport but I don't think I would do it all over again if given the chance. Boxing wasn't my first choice sport. I started fighting at 10 but fell in love with boxing at age 15 when I first represented Guyana. I realise that boxing could pull me out of the ghetto. However, my first choice sport was football which could not bring me out of the ghetto." His immediate plans include opening a Taxi Service in December and playing football with first division club Pele. "I'm trying to play some football as a back up goalkeeper with Pele Football Club. Football was my first love. I played football before turning to boxing. As for business I'll be opening a taxi service in December named More Fire Taxi Service. I have a good start thanks to boxing, my previous manager Odinga Lumumba, trainer Lennox Daniels and fans. One part on my life is over, Andrew Murray has to now pay attention to other aspects." Murray leaves the sport with a 27-6-1 (18KOs) record.

Andrew Murray calls it a day

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Former Common- wealth and Latin American Champ, Andrew Murray