John Murray made a successful first defence of his European lightweight title, stopping Andriy Kudryavtsev in nine.
Younger brother Joe makes it a family double at Robin Park
John Murray made a successful first defence of his European lightweight title, stopping the durable Andriy Kudryavtsev in the ninth round in Wigan.
Mancunian Murray simply wore down his opponent from the Ukraine with his incessant attacks, though he did not have it all his own way.
The 25-year-old didn't have to go far to find Kudryavtsev, who was attempting to claim the title for a second time having lost out to Anthony Mezaache back in 2009.
The experienced challenger was happy to go blow-for-blow in the early stages, meaning the two boxers served up a treat for the watching crowd.
Fast pace
However Kudryavtsev, who looked to have been wobbled by a body shot as early as the first, was unable to maintain the pace as the rounds progressed.
Despite having to take a few to get his own shots off, Murray began to assert his dominance by the fifth round.
A cracking right hand that snapped back Kudryavtsev's head with 30 seconds to go in the ninth led to the referee stepping in. The beaten fighter had few complaints and neither did those in attendance at the Robin Park venue.
"(He was) very tough. We knew watching him on tapes, as well as his record, that he was a really good fighter, Murray told
Sky Sports.
"I went in there and did a really good job. I boxed really well in the early rounds, then lost my way for a couple rounds but then came back really strong.
"That shows my quality - to lose my way in a fight but then find my rhythm again. You have to do that at the very top level."
After making it 30 straight wins as a professional, Murray is now looking to get a world title fight before the year is out.
"I'd love to fight any of the top guys in the division," he added.
"Michael Katsidis, which I think would be an absolute war if we got it on, there's Juan Diaz and then also Juan Manuel Marquez. Also (Humberto) Soto, who is the current WBC champion.
"I'd love a shot at the world title before Christmas."
There is also the possibility of moving to light-welterweight to take on Victor Ortiz on the undercard to Amir Khan's fight with Marcos Maidana.
Asked if he would be keen to fight Ortiz in December, Murray said: "Definitely, yeah. I'm going to go to Egypt for a week, get a bit of sun on my back, and then we will be back into training."
Family double
Meanwhile, Joe Murray made it a double celebration for the family with an impressive second-round stoppage of Richard Szebeledi.
Murray simply proved too slick for the Hungarian, who had previously gone the distance with current British bantamweight champion Stuart Hall, wobbling him in the first round with some superb uppercuts.
It came as something of a surprise that the bout went beyond one, Szebeledi seemingly having no idea where the punches were coming from as he swung wildly in the hope of getting lucky.
The end did come midway through the second when Murray landed a superb right that sent his rival tumbling to the canvas face first.
