EXCLUSIVE: Before taking up MMA, Lerone Murphy shared the boxing gym with an array of British legends, including Amir Khan and Martin Murray.
On Saturday night, at UFC 308, inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, ‘The Miracle’ will go head-to-head with Dan Ige in a collision that looks destined to excite.
Lerone Murphy was in the same boxing gym as Amir Khan
Born and raised in Manchester, Lerone Murphy was always destined for sporting success. As a youngster, he started playing football, participating in trials for Liverpool. Alas, an injury at the age of 16, prevented him from going down the professional route.
However, in a testament to his fighting spirit, he found greatness down a completely different avenue. With legendary British boxing trainer, Oliver Harrison as his uncle, it comes as no surprise that Murphy possesses dynamite in his fists.
Prior to taking up MMA, he spent time in the gym alongside icons, Amir Khan and Martin Murray, before transitioning to life inside the cage. But had he started his boxing journey earlier, he may have made a career in the ring rather than the octagon.
In an exclusive interview with Sporf, he explained: “I remember, I must’ve been about ten, and I asked my mum, ‘Can I go train with Uncle Oliver’? I called him, and he said, ‘You’ll have to make your way to the gym’. My mum didn’t drive at the time; things were tight. We lived an hour-and-a-half bus drive from the gym in Salford, so, I didn’t end up going down that route.
“Now, I’m here, I always think, ‘What would’ve happened if I’d have gotten on that bus, and I would’ve started training at that age’. But we used to go in the gym a lot on Sunday, and throughout the week, and I’ve seen Amir Khan there training and Martin Murray. I’ve actually done a bit of technical work with Martin. But Oliver was a great coach, everything my uncle used to teach me has stuck with me.”
Lerone Murphy is giving Max Holloway the edge over Ilia Topuria at UFC 308
The decision to pursue MMA, proved a choice worth making, as Murphy has travelled the world, showcasing his incredible skills, most recently putting on a striking masterclass against Edson Barboza in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Now, he has an even tougher challenge ahead, as Dan Ige is never afraid of giving his all to claim the victory. But despite the task at hand, the Englishman’s long-term goal is to get his hands on the UFC featherweight title, regardless of who has it.
On October 26, Ilia Topuria will enter his fight with Max Holloway as the 145-pound champion, but Murphy isn’t too confident the Spanish-Georgian will leave with his precious belt.
The Brit predicted: “I think it’s a great match-up, and I’ve changed my prediction three or four times just today. Every time I think about it, it changes because I believe they’re both very good. They both have styles that can counter each other. Holloway has a chin, but has he got a chin with someone who has as much power as Topuria? At the same time, Topuria is going to struggle with Holloway’s range and the arsenal of strikes he has. It all comes down to if Holloway can get out of the first two rounds because I think Topuria will start slowing down.”
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Featured Image Credit: Lerone Murphy / Amir Khan
