The conviction stands as a sobering reminder that sporting success offers no protection from accountability outside it.
Manchester Evening News report that former British and European lightweight champion John Murray has been sentenced to prison following two violent incidents involving women.
Murray, 41, originally from Levenshulme, appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court where he was jailed for three years after admitting to a series of serious offences, including strangulation and assault. The court heard how incidents in January and July 2023 marked a sharp and troubling fall from his days competing on the world boxing stage.
The first incident occurred on January 20, 2023, while Murray was working as a delivery driver. Prosecutors told the court that he had blocked a woman’s driveway, leading to a confrontation that quickly turned violent.
The victim, who had her two young children in the back of her car, challenged Murray and another woman.
During the altercation, Murray punched her in the face as the children screamed for him to stop. He struck her again before driving away, colliding with her car as he fled the scene.
The woman suffered a broken nose and later told the court the attack had left lasting emotional scars, saying she no longer felt safe leaving her home alone.
The court also heard harrowing details of a separate incident on July 15, 2023, involving Murray’s former partner.
After the couple had split, Murray went to her home to discuss a family matter. Prosecutors said he forced his way inside through a window after banging on the door in the early hours.
Once inside, Murray followed the woman to her bedroom, where he strangled her for approximately 45 seconds, before dragging her by the hair and repeatedly punching her. The attack continued downstairs, where he threw her onto a sofa, jumped on top of her, and bit her breast.
She was left gasping for air, with injuries including bruising to her neck, face and breast, as well as a cut behind her ear. A passer by intervened, with Murray attempting to strike him before the situation was brought under control.
In a victim statement, the woman said the incident had destroyed her sense of safety and left her fearful in her own home.
John Murray pleaded guilty to strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and assault by beating. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a seven-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his ex-partner.
During mitigation, Murray’s defence highlighted his past achievements in boxing and the difficulties he faced following forced retirement due to injury.
Murray retired from professional boxing in November 2014, aged just 29, after suffering a detached retina in his final fight against Anthony Crolla in Manchester. He ended his career with a 33-3 record, having previously fought on major stages including the undercard of Floyd Mayweather vs Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas in 2007.
During his career, John Murray was also a long time domestic rival of Amir Khan, with the two fighters repeatedly linked to a high-profile British showdown that never materialised. Khan has since confirmed that he offered Murray the fight on multiple occasions, but negotiations collapsed after the sides failed to agree financial terms.
Following retirement, Murray opened a boxing gym in Reddish, Stockport, where he trained amateur and professional fighters before the gym later closed due to financial pressures.
Murray’s conviction now stands as a sobering reminder that sporting success offers no protection from accountability outside it.
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