Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / BOXING
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Boxing Contents:  Champions List | British rankings | World rankings | Get Involved

Tuesday, 30 October 2007, 21:37 GMT

Murray seals Olympic Games place

Joe Murray Joe Murray has become the first British boxer to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.

The 20-year-old Murray defeated Mauritius' Commonwealth Games silver medallist Bruno Julie 26-19 in Chicago.

The win ensured Murray qualified for the last eight of the World Amateur Championships and secured him a place in Great Britain's team for Beijing.

"It's a dream come true," said Murray. "I've got to give a massive thank you to my England coach Terry Edwards and my club coach Joe Gallagher."

Murray, who fights for the Moss Side amateur club and is a former room-mate of Amir Khan, added: "It's not bad going to have two Lancashire fighters reaching two Olympics in a row."

Showing impressive maturity, Murray raced into a 5-0 lead and, despite his lead being pegged back to two points at one stage, the British boxer never had to chase the fight.

606: DEBATE
Give your reaction to Joe Murray's win in Chicago

Edwards said: "Joe has got the first one on the board and it is a remarkable achievement for him really.

"It will really lift the team and now Joe can concentrate on going further in this competition."

Khan won a silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004 after losing 30-22 to Cuban Mario Kindelan in the lightweight final.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Britain's Beijing medal hopefuls (07 Aug 07 |  Sport Homepage )
Kindelan ends Khan dream (29 Aug 04 |  Boxing )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
British Boxing Board
Amateur Boxing Association
Beijing 2008
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Boxing Contents:  Champions List | British rankings | World rankings | Get Involved

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©