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3:43am

I wonder if Martinez will do the decent thing and give Martin Murray a rematch.

Either way this bout will have really opened a few eyes - and hopefully a few doors for the St Helens fighter.

What an ambassador for our town.

Full report is now online in our boxing section.

2:56am

What a superbly clinical, composed and brave performance from Martin Murray.

Murray was hand-picked by the Argentinian to provide easy cannon fodder - but he rocked the champ with some clean scoring punches.

The ticker tape was very nearly being packed away.

Murray had the tactics spot-on, making it physical from the third round onwards to get in the face of Martinez.

You could see Martinez was rattled - he spent so much time whinging and trying to use his kiddology to influence the ref.

Murray twice floored the champion, the second harshly being judged as a slip.

2:51am

Judges verdict: unanimous decision all three giving it to Martinez 115-112.

But what a travesty of justice that is after such a superb performance from the St Helens man.

2:49am

The pundits did not give Martin Murray a hope, but he has come to the lion's den and done us all proud.

2:47am

Round 12: What a tremendously gutsy performance from Martin Murray.

He has given it the fight of his life and has not been wobbled once by the big punching Argentine.

It is now down to the judges.

2:43am

The tilte is up for grabs here.

2:43am

Round 11: Martinez may have edged that round but Murray recovered in the second half of the round to give his opponent some back.

It is going to the final round.

2:39am

Round ten: Murray knocks down Martinez again - clearly. But the referee rukes a slip. Murray is really giving the champion a thorough examination.

If Martinez picked Murray for an easy homecoming bout, I bet he's regretting it now.

Murray is landing great shots and has maintained his stingy defence.

2:35am

Round nine: Martinez was the busiest of the fighters, but Murray was still finding a way through with the cleaner shots.

Murray bleeding from the nose, Martinez's corner working on his cut left eye.

This is an even fight with Murray edging that round.

2:31am

Round eight: Good left hook by Murray to the jaw of the Argentinian.

Then a knock down from a Murray right hand to the jaw. Another great round for Murray - Martinez knows he is in a fight. Didn'r the champ predict an eighth round victory?

2:27am

Round seven: Eventful round, Martinez bleeding from the left eye - but ended the round with a bit of showboating with his arm up in the air.

Murray is giving the champion a torrid night and is not over-awed by the occasion.

2:23am

Round six: Trickle of blood on Martinez's left eye. Murray is having the fight of his life so far and is getting through with some clean punches.

A good round for Murray. Is he rattling Martinez - or is he simply being coaxed into opening up by the veteran champion?

 

2:18am

Round five: Good right hand to the body from Murray, but two good right hooks from Martinez in the second half of the round.

Murray giving a good account of himself. He has certainly quietened the home crowd a little.

2:15am

Round four: Murray fighting in a very solid style. Low blow from Murray being milked by Martinez.

Murray began opening up and fighting a lot more as the round wore on and alarming his opponent with the closeness of his head.

Murray landing more punches than his opponent for the first time of the night.

2:10am

So far Martinez has landed 27 punches to Murray's 17.

2:09am

Round three: Both boxers landing good body shots, Murray throws best punch of the night so far with a right hook.

Martinez desperate to coax Murray into opening up so that he can put on a show.

Rain now falling pretty heavy in Buenos Aires.

2:07am

Murray's corner advise him to get a bit more physical.

2:06am

Round two: Another good defensive round from Murray - Martinez has tried to coax him out of his tight defence.

2:01am

Round One: Murray kept his guard up for the whole round. He landed a good right hand but took a couple of body shots. Even round.

1:57am

Martin Murray introduced as The fighting Pride of St Helens, England.

Sergio Martinez looks supremely confident.

Only seconds away from the start of what could be a momentous fight.

Let's get ready to rumble!

 

1:52am

What an atmosphere.  Every seat in the house sold.

1:49am

The wet conditions could be a factor in this one. Will the wet ring affect the way Martinez can move?

1:46am

Pretty intimidating walk to the ring for Murray - but he is there now.

1:43am

A Saints touch there- Light up my senses drifting out for the Murray walk in to the ring.

1:42am

Drawing ever closer to the start of Martin Murray's fight - and conditions in Buenos Aires are wet. 

The canvas is being wiped out as we speak.

The fight has been brought forward because of the bad conditions because the authorities want to close the stadium.

12:33am

12:05am

9:09pm

8:54pm

The Kings Head in Warrington has Team Murray and Only one Martin Murray banners hanging from the windows of the pub.

Many banners up in town yet?

7:55pm

Must be about four in the afternoon in Buenos Aires and no doubt the atmosphere is building among Martin Murray's 40-strong Barmy Army.

If and it is a very big IF Martin Murray can pull this off and take the WBC middleweight belt from Sergio Martinez in own back yard it will without doubt be the town of St Helens biggest sporting achievement - even eclipsing Daniel Anderson's Grand Slam winning Saints team of 2006.

Any readers who do not know the destructive power of the man Murray is going to be getting into the ring with should look up footage of Sergio Martinez's 11th round stoppages of leading British middleweights Darren Barker and Matthew Macklin over the past 18 months.

Murray is a massive underdog for a reason, but the fearless Fingerpost fighter has the heart of a lion and real belief in his own abilities.

7:35pm

St Helens darter Dave Chisnall was knocked out in the fourth round of today's Speedy Services UK Open Qualifier Seven in Wigan.

Chisnall lost 6-4 to Dennis Smith, after beating Andy Pearson, Martyn Turner and Paul Amos in the opening rounds.

Kim Huybrechts defeated John Part in the final to take the £6,000 winning prize.

7:23pm

St Helens Town recorded a 1-0 win over Stone Dominoes courtesy of an 11th minute goal from Daniel Wright.

6:55pm

The last time the St Helens district had a world boxing champion to boast of was Pewfall blacksmith Peter Kane who won the World Flyweight title in 1938.

Kane was born in Heywood, Lancashire, worked in Golborne and lived on Liverpool Road between Haydock and Ashton.

6:39pm

6:35pm

Rugby union: Liverpool St Helens' promotion bid from North One was scuppered by a late play-off home defeat by Morley at Moss Lane.

They were leading 17-8 going into the closing minutes, but the game went away from them in the end, losing 28-17.

6:31pm

6:28pm

6:28pm

6:27pm

6:24pm

5:10pm

4:52pm

4:31pm

Food for thought: Saints have their injuries to key players, but Tony Rea said Broncos were down to their last fit 17.

4:29pm

Leaving Twickenham before the Army v Navy rugby union game finished.

Not been the usual relaxed atmosphere down here for the travelling fans.

Maybe the fixture clash should have been avoided altogether.

But how can 80,000 watch that game and yet only 2,800 see ours.

3:50pm

Old boy Maurie Fa'asavalu was among the crowd at the Stoop.

The Harlequins flanker must still have a soft spot for the Saints.

3:19pm

3:17pm

3:14pm

Broncos boss Tony Rea said defence was the key for his side.

He said: "In the first half we defended for long periods very well.

"Craig Gower had a good lead into the game and took the line on when he could and said follow me.

"His kicking game really put the pressure on the Saints.

"It was a very important win. We come away with two points and life is about accumulating points."

3:10pm

 

Nathan Brown's post match appraisal:

Adam Swift's injury is believed to be a deadleg rather than anything more serious.

Brown praised the effort and commitment, but said the team was let down by picking the wrong options.

He singled out that the game ended three tries apiece but that Saints had also created a number of other chances that went begging.

He had special praise for the impact made by 18-year-old Luke Thompson on his debut.

2:40pm

77 mins: Looking bleak now for Saints as Gower's kick traps Wellens behind the line and forces a drop out.

2:38pm

London v Saints crowd at the Stoop is 2,839.

2:37pm

Soliola break scatters the London defence, Charnock is up in support but the youngster's pass inside finds a London shirt instead and another good position is thrown away.

2:35pm

73 mins; Astute kick from London's Gower helps run down the clock and make Saints play from their own half.

2:34pm

An awful pass from Howarth goes into touch and lets the Broncos off the hook and blows a good position with 8 minutes to play

2:33pm

A big last ten minutes now for Saints.

2:29pm

67 mins: Crucial tackle by Makinson and Hohaia stop what looked like a certsin score from speedster Kieran Dixon.

2:29pm

67 mins: Crucial tackle by Makinson and Hohaia stop what looked like a certsin score from speedster Kieran Dixon.

2:26pm

63 mins: Great break from Jones, offload to Thompson, who made a great surge up the middle - but the ball came loose in collision. Good field position was lost with a lOndon penalty. Time running out if Saints are to avoid their first ever defeat at the Stoop.

2:16pm

54 mins: Good kick by Ashe and chase from Saints forces Sarginson behind his line. Drop out.

2:06pm

Makinson kick off out on the full. Broncos back on the attack.

2:00pm

1:48pm

39 mins: Saints last attack of the game halted by a Bailey crash tackle on Soliola after Puletua had been held up on the line.

1:45pm

37: 18-year-old Luke Thomspson replaces Laffranchi for his senior debut.

1:44pm

35: Pressure from Saints on the London line, but Howarth is stopped short on the last tackle power play and a good chance went begging. 

1:39pm

Hohaia has gone to full back, Makinson has replaced Swift on the wing and Charnock is in the halves.

1:30pm

22 mins: Percival misses the touchline goal, Saints 10-0 London.

1:29pm

One of these weeks Saints will get through a game without losing a player through injury.

1:26pm

Play is held up at the Stoop while young Adam Swift is transferred to the strecher with what appears to be a leg injury.

He is replaced by teenager Lewis Charnock.

1:24pm

22 mins: Alas try scorer Swift has been injured in the act of scoring and the the stretcher has come out for the young wingman.

1:20pm

18: Lance Hohaia error - putting a foot over the deadball line fielding the Broncos restart to force a drop out.

1:20pm

18: Lance Hohaia error - putting a foot over the deadball line fielding the Broncos restart to force a drop out.

1:18pm

17 mins; Mark Percival adds the extras to make it 6-0 to Saints.

1:15pm

15 mins: Great chase from Soliola traps Dixon behind his line to force a drop up after an early period of London pressure.

1:08pm

8 mins: Great piece of defence from Saints wing Mark Percival, minesweeping Gower's attacking kick behind the line to clear the danger.

12:56pm

Twickenham: Tale of two codes. A sparse crowd here at the Stoop for London v Saints contrasts starkly to the tens of thousands heading over to neighbouring Twickenham for rugby union's Army v Navy game.

12:54pm

Murray v Martinez: Martin Murray weighed in at 159.6lbs yesterday, two pounds heavier than champion Sergio Martinez.

12:38pm

Saints: Makinson; Swift, Turner, Jones, Percival; Ashe, Hohaia; Puletua, Howarth, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Soliola, Laffranchi, Wellens. Subs: Walmsley, Clough, Thompson, Charnock.

12:36pm

London team: Robertson; O'Callaghan, Mendeika, Sarginson, Dixon; Witt, Gower; Kaufisi, Lee, Krasniqui, Lovell, Bailey, Cook. Subs: Bryant, Fisher, Dorn, Dollapi.

Tef: T. Roby.

12:33pm