Rohan Murdock vs. Leslie William Sherrington

An all Aussie battle headlining Nathan's Nissan Arena next Saturday. The winner gets back on the scoreboard after each having fought once in 2020 and lost.

For the 29 year old Murdock, who amassed a 77-13 amateur record and turned heads in his pro debut (a one minute destruction of John "The Poet Hobo" Noctor of Tasmania) but has failed to make the big splash expected of him in the more than a decade since, it will be a first step toward reentry into the world rankings after traveling to Manchester to be knocked out by Brit prospect Zach Parker 15 months ago. He had held a few regional WBO baubles before challenging Parker for the vacant intercontinental super middleweight title.

For the 38 year old Sherrington, it doubtless is last chance saloon. Les has been a top 15 rated contender (and worn a few minor middleweight WBA, WBO, and IBF belts) before, but that was several years ago. He is 3-8 since then, all of those losses via stoppage. Most recently he failed to last five minutes against Dusty Hernández Harrison; that was a month before Parker vs. Murdock, making old Les' layoff even longer.

Height and reach are pretty even, and Sherrington has twice as much experience (in bouts, and rounds) while Murdock has the 24% higher KO rate in this 168lb contest. Both men have vacillated between SMW and LHW, Les also having that off and on stint at MW.

Murdock apparently wanted to jump straight back in with stiff competition to stay sharp (even a rematch with Parker perhaps) but with Oz's international borders closed he had to settle for a domestic showdown and Sherrington fits the bill as a local name against whom he can shine. Sakio Bika could be a logical next opponent if he wants to squeeze in another showing this year (with Australia not projected to reopen travel until 2022).

 

MTK Global still represents Murdock on the international stage, once his cage door's unlocked, AFAIK. This is a small hall show put on by Queensland promoter Gareth Williams of Rightcross Entertainment.

 

Reckon he could clean out at SMW domestically before striking out to foreign shores again? Sakio Bika, Jayde Mitchell, and Cesar Tapia ought to do a thorough job of it, eh? And maybe Leti should he want the national title itself for bragging rights.