Latest update April 18th, 2025 8:12 AM
‘Hurry Up’ Moore convicts Mark ‘Killer’ Murray
By Michael Benjamin
The boxers contracted to engage in fistic action on the Holland’s Entertainment Promotions 21-round extravaganza, at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, Saturday evening last, transformed the venue into a hive of activity, none more hilarious than the Fahaad Ali/Shawn Harris three-round exhibition affair.
Leon Moore (left) prepares to launch one of his attacks on Mark Murray.
While ‘Hurry Up’ endorsed the sobriquet attached to his name, Mark Murray looked a far cry from the ‘Killer’ he purported to be. It took Moore just 1:55seconds of the third frame to convince Murray that it took more that just a sobriquet plastered to one’s name to truly produce the desired goods.
Both fighters, battling out of a southpaw stance, engaged in the initial ‘feel out’ process. Moore opened his account with several piston-like jabs that seemed to offset the shorter Murray. The first round undoubtedly belonged to the lanky Moore, as he utilised his height advantage to full effect.
He also intermittently mixed his boxing skills with unbridled aggression that underlined the vast difference in skill between the two combatants. If the first round was a simple undertaking for Moore, the second was a walk in the park. Most of his punches connected wherever and whenever he chose, as he transformed the hapless Murray into a human punching bag.
At the sound of the bell to begin the third frame, Moore rushed out and dealt Murray several punishing blows. Even then, Murray failed to find his rhythm, or enough gumption to launch an effective counterattack. Shortly afterwards, the two separated and blood was gushing from a wound over Murray’s eye. The doctor in charge, Farouk Riyasat examined the damage and determined that it was best to halt the contest, much to the relief of Murray who seemed unable to muster the required skill and determination to threaten Moore’s local invincibility.
Super, super heavyweights, Fahaad Ali (left) and Shawn Harris go after each other in their action packed affair.
Meanwhile, shortly after the conclusion of the bout, local bantamweight champion, Dexter Marques, publicly issued a call for Moore to sign a contract for the bantamweight title. Moore scoffed at Marques’ ranting saying that he was only willing to accept a fight that would enhance his career. “That was a poor performance against a fighter that lacks substance,” said Marques. “I hear your voice and I may just take up the offer, provided that we could work out the details,” Moore retorted.
Earlier, in the opening encounter, former Guyana representative to the Women’s Boxing Championships in Trinidad last year, Ali Marques, pummeled Avalon Scotland into submission for three rounds in their catch-weight affair.
Heavyweight, Clyde Williams was no match for Mitchell Rogers and after an especially torrid first round, his seconds decided that he was way out of his league, and wisely threw in the towel.
The promoters also inexplicably cancelled the six rounds junior/welterweight clash between Cassius Matthews and Cecil Smith, while the exhibition bout between Fahaad Ali and Shawn Harris added a little spice to an otherwise dismal card.
Weighing a collective 713 pounds, Ali and Harris stood toe to toe and traded blows for three rounds, supported by wild, screaming supporters. Even before the two entered the ring, they had managed to grasp a receptive audience, each entering the Complex to raucous applause. When the two entered the ring, the crowd flocked the ringside area for a close up view. Both fighters were unable to bounce around making it difficult to avoid each other’s blows. Naturally, this heightened the excitement. Ali, in particular loaded up a big right hook, but Harris wisely retained a safe distance thwarting his efforts to land the haymaker. Nevertheless, each fighter, egged on by a frenzied bunch of supporters, pounded away at each other.
When the final bell sounded, the sigh of relief blown by both boxers was heard all around the ground. Trevor Arno, Carlton Hopkinson and Orin Hart all decided that both boxers had demonstrated commendable pluck and to earn a well-deserved draw.
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