Martin Murray Gets Replacement Opponent For June 23

Carlos ToroJune 12, 2018, 7:30 pm

Martin Murray will get a title fight on June 23 in London, just not a world title fight.

WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders was supposed to defend his title against Murray in the main event of the June 23 boxing card at the O2 Arena, but recently had to pull out due to injury. Murray will now stay on the card with a different opponent. It was announced that Murray will fight Roberto Garcia for the WBC Silver middleweight title.

New opponent confirmed for June 23rd.
Roberto Garcia has put his WBC Silver middleweight title on the line and it’s going to be just what I trained for and that’s a 12 round war!
Big thanks to all my team in working so hard and getting me a meaningful fight —- pic.twitter.com/vboxJWlLJ9

— Martin Murray (@MartinMurrayBox) June 9, 2018

This wasn’t the first time Saunders delayed his title defense against Murray due to injury. The WBO title fight was originally supposed to happen on April 14, but Saunders suffered a hand injury which initially postponed the fight to June 23. Murray re-joins a card that will feature top British talent including Ohara Davies, Daniel Dubois, Darryll Williams and Anthony Yarde fighting in their respective fights.

Garcia won the WBC Silver title when he defeated Omar Chavez by unanimous decision in Garcia’s last bout last August. A veteran boxer who made his pro debut in 2001, Garcia has fought the likes of Antonio Margarito and Breidis Prescott. Garcia is currently ranked No. 6 in the official WBC middleweight rankings.

Martin has not fought since last September when he stopped Arman Torosyan in the fourth round of their fight last September. Murray has fought in world title bouts against Arthur Abraham, Gennady Golovkin, Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez, but has never won a world title as a pro.