Joe eyes title tilt after Danish heroics

JOE Murray is targeting a showdown with British lightweight champion Scott Cardle after his extremely impressive victory over previously unbeaten Rashid Kassem in Denmark on Saturday.

Murray, who is trained by his brother John at the Murray Machines Gym in Stockport, travelled to Kassem’s back yard before knocking out his opponent with a devastating right hand in the sixth round.

The 29-year-old silenced the home crowd with the win, and he is now eyeing a crack at his former stablemate Cardle, or a shot at European honours.

“I’m confident I can go on to bigger things. I’ll fight anyone, all they have to do is pick up the phone and I’ll fight them,” he said.

“I went to Denmark and beat somebody on two weeks’ notice, so now I want to fight for the British or the European, or maybe even a world level fight.

“It wasn’t an easy fight as I was up against an undefeated kid with a lot of spirit who didn’t want to lose his zero.

“I’m experienced though and had won 18 fights, and the only person I’ve lost two is going on to fight for a world title.

“I may have knocked him down in the first round but it was hard, but when it came to digging down deep, I had more in the tank.”

Also on the bill in Denmark, Ryan Walsh suffered a controversial defeat against unbeaten Dennis Ceylan for the vacant European featherweight title.

Ceylan won the fight by split decision, despite being knocked down by Walsh in the opening round of the fight.

The defeat means that Walsh has suffered just the second loss of his career, leaving him with a record of 21 wins, two defeats and one draw since making his professional debut back in 2008.