Murphy secures superb victory in professional boxing debut

Kildare’s Sarah Murphy ignited her professional boxing career with a superb victory over England’s Kerry Orton in the National Stadium on Friday night.

In what saw the 18-year-old super lightweight become Ireland’s youngest ever female professional boxer, the St. Brigid’s competitor went the distance with the far more experienced Orton, emerging victorious over the four rounds on a scoreline of 40-36.

For Murphy, stepping into the ring for her pro-debut was the fulfilment of a life-long goal, made all the more memorable by the fact that she surmounted an opponent who enjoyed a significant height and reach advantage.

“I was actually quite calm getting into the ring” recalled Murphy.

“I was happy in my head going out to do what I do best.

“It was just about taking it one round at a time to start off and make sure that I was fighting at my distance and not letting her use her reach.

“That was the main thing going into it, because she's taller and has longer range, so I had try and go into the fight at my distance.

“We knew we had to go out and get on top, although we knew that we weren't going to get the knock-out, because she’s a very tough girl and she's never been stopped before.

“If the knockout came we were going to take, but it didn't, so we were just taking it one round at a time.

“I felt my punches landing, so I knew that I was doing well and I knew that going back to the corner in every round.

“I was happy out with my performance in every round. I had a feeling that I banked all the rounds. I would have been very shocked if I didn't.

“Coming into the third and fourth, I kind of knew in myself that I was winning, but you can never take anything for granted in this sport either. You always have to go out and make sure you win the round to make sure you come out on top.

“My coaches Paddy Phelan and Wes Murphy had my back. They were incredible, they believed in me.

“I didn't know much about Kerry getting into the ring to start off with, and, really, I didn't need to know much. I trusted my coaches, and I didn't read into anything too much. I just knew she was taller than me and I knew that she was tough,” she told The Kildare Nationalist.

For Murphy, having her hand raised on her professional boxing debut was a surreal moment, made all the more special by the fact that the night also saw compatriots, Christina Desmond and Kelsey Leonard pick up victories.

“It was absolutely amazing,” said Murphy.

“I don't think I could have picked a better card to be on for my professional debut. It was an amazing card and an amazing show.

“Without all my sponsors, all my club mates and all the support that I had from family and friends, and without JB promotions themselves, that night wouldn't have happened.

“It only really hitting me when I woke up the day after. It was like ‘Wow, last night was my professional debut and I came out on top and got the win, and I’m now 1 and 0,” she smiled.

Murphy was taking her first step into professional boxing on the back of a hugely impressive amateur career that featured no less than eight national title wins, three of which came at Under 18 level.

Yet, the Kildare woman found herself in a completely different set-up when she made the switch to pro boxing, as she put everything into a hugely intense camp in her bid to secure that opening win.

“Pro boxing is completely different compared to the amateur game, but the camp was very good,” said Murphy.

“It was tough. I was sparring top athletes.

“I was in Brian Guy's Fitness in Clondalkin doing my strength and conditioning sessions twice a week with him and the sessions were very tough, but it was well worth it.

“There was no stone left unturned, and there wasn't anything more that I could have actually done myself going into the fight. All the blood, sweat and tears throughout the camp paid off,” she smiled.

Delighted at seeing his daughter secure victory on her pro debut, Wes Murphy remarked “She did everything myself and Paddy instructed her to do.

“It would have been very easy on the night, with the bright lights and the hype around it, for her to go offline a bit, but she didn’t. She stuck to the game plan and did everything we told her to do going out. We’re very proud of her and it’s a very proud moment for the family,” he said.

Looking ahead to Sarah’s next move in the sport, Wes stressed “With female boxing, if you're getting the results, you can progress very quickly, so we'll just have to monitor that ourselves as a part of her team and just direct her in the right way, just to make sure she doesn't move too quick.” And Sarah herself echoed those sentiments, saying “I'm only 18, so I'm going to take it nice and steady. When the time is right and the right fight comes along, we’re going to be ready. I've loads of time to build, so I’ll take it nice and steady going forward,” she insisted.