Second win for Murphy after impressive outing against Quintana

Sarah Murphy improved her professional boxing record to 2-0 after she surmounted the challenge of Katherine Quintana on JB Promotion’s ‘Proving Ground’ show staged in the Pavilion Building at Leopardstown Racecourse on Saturday night.

In what marked the first ever boxing event to be staged at this venue, the Kildare woman took another major step forward in her budding pro career, beating her Spanish opponent over four rounds 40-36.

Murphy was delighted to be back in the ring after having enjoyed a successful pro-debut against England’s Kerry Orton in the National Stadium back in October, the 18-year-old super lightweight telling The Kildare Nationalist “I was delighted just to secure the win and to get another one underneath my belt, especially against such a durable journey woman.

“I felt very good going into the ring. I was just focused on one thing and that was getting the ‘W’. As the rounds were progressing, I could feel myself becoming more confident. I was like, ‘Yeah I have this’.

“It was a completely different fight compared to Kerry Orton. Kerry is more of a boxer, whereas Katherine was more of a fighter and she liked a bit of a scrap.

“It was a completely different fight, but I dealt with it very well and I was very relaxed and confident. When I had to fight her, I fought her, but I was also keeping my distance as well.

“To now have been in with two good, durable women, it’s great. It's amazing to be able to show my levels against them,” she said.

Murphy’s father, Wes, who, together with Paddy Phelan, coaches the St. Brigid’s boxer, was very impressed with the composure of his daughter and the manner in which she executed the fight plan.

“Sarah put on an excellent, very dominant performance,” he remarked. “She never looked in trouble and she really enjoyed it. For some reason she didn't feel any stress at all on the night.

“Sarah's boxing 13 years, I'm coaching with her the last 11 years, and that night was probably the most confident I've ever seen her getting into a ring. She did very well.

“That fight was a step up in opponent. She was very tough. She came to fight and she threw some big bombs, but thankfully Sarah's footwork was on point on the night, so she avoided nearly everything that was thrown at her.

“We brought a big crowd with us which was lovely. The place was electric. There was a great atmosphere there in a fantastic venue at Leopardstown Racecourse. It was an excellent job done by JB promotions. The whole show itself was fantastic,” he said.

This latest victory marks the start of, what is expected to be, a busy year ahead for Murphy and one that could see her back in the ring as early as April.

Certainly the Kildare woman is relishing the prospect of more competition in the near future, saying “I love being active, I love training and constantly having something to aim towards. I'll have a few days off and I'll be straight back into training.” Her father has been very impressed with the start the eight-time amateur national champion has made to her pro career, but is adamant that progress will be made at a steady pace.

“It's been a great start to her professional career, and hopefully now she can make it 3 and 0 and we can push on from there,” he said.

“Sarah's plan is to become world champion not just at one weight, but multiple weights. But she's 18, she's young, and we're in no rush. We'll take our time with everything that has to be done,” he insisted.