Lee_Roy_Murphy

Lee Roy Murphy

Lee Roy Murphy

American boxer

Lee Roy Murphy (born July 16, 1958) is a retired American professional boxer. He held the IBF cruiserweight title from 1984 to 1986.

Quick Facts Born, Nationality ...

Amateur career

Murphy represented Chicago at three consecutive Intercity Golden Gloves dispatching his rivals with the first-round knockouts in 1977 and 1978,[1][2] and winning the 1979 Light Heavyweight National Golden Gloves and earning a spot on the 1980 United States Olympic team. However, as the USA boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow due to political reasons, Murphy and the rest of his team were not allowed an Olympic berth. Murphy did however receive one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.[3] Instead the U.S. team dispatched first to the West Germany for a match-up with the West German national team,[4] and then to Kenya, to compete in the inaugural Gold Cup international boxing tournament funded partially by the U.S. State Department, for the benefit of countries which boycotted the Summer Olympics.[5] He is now 64 with his wife Barbara and his daughter Ariel Murphy with his grandchildren Matthew Townsend, Brooklyn Lewis, and Eloni Lewis.

Leeroy Murphy was inducted in the Hall of Fame for Los Angeles California in May of 2022.

Highlights

He finished his amateur career having 162 victories to his credit.[5]

Professional career

Known as "Solid Gold", Murphy turned pro in 1980 and won the IBF Cruiserweight Title with a 14th-round TKO of Marvin Camel in 1984. He defended the title three times before losing the belt to Ricky Parkey in 1986. After the loss, Murphy's career drifted into obscurity with losses to Dwight Muhammad Qawi in 1987 and Mike Evans in 1991. He retired after the loss to Evans, but launched a brief comeback in 1998, winning both of his bouts.

Personal

Lee Roy's brother, Kenny Murphy, was also a prizefighter and fought Fabrice Tiozzo for the WBA Cruiserweight Title in 1999. He won four Intercity Golden Gloves' championships in 1977 at 165 lb. and in 1978 through 1980 at 178 lb. He married Barbara Murphy and they had they're only daughter Ariel Murphy. Now he is 64 retired from CTA, Living his best life.

Professional boxing record

More information 34 fights, 30 wins ...
More information No., Result ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Big Apple and the Windy City Glovers clash by Jack Smith, Daily News from New York, April 24, 1979, p. 56.
  2. [2]
    N.Y. kayos Chi 4th time in row by Jack Smith, Daily News from New York, April 24, 1979, p. 56.
  3. [3]
    Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry (2008). Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
  4. [4]
    Five Olympic boxers to fight in German meet (AP,) The Decatur Herald, June 26, 1980, p. 12.
  5. [5]
    Sports, Pacific Stars And Stripes, September 15, 1980, p. 21.
More information Sporting positions ...
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