Lee Roy Murphy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lee Roy Murphy |
|
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Lee Roy Murphy |
| Nickname(s) | Solid Gold |
| Rated at |
|
| Height | 5 ft 11 in |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | July 16, 1958 Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 34 |
| Wins | 30 |
| Wins by KO | 23 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Lee Roy Murphy was born on July 16, 1958. He is a retired American professional boxer. He was a champion in the IBF cruiserweight division from 1984 to 1986.
Contents
Lee Roy Murphy's Amateur Boxing Journey
Lee Roy Murphy started his boxing journey as an amateur. He represented his hometown, Chicago, in big boxing events called the Intercity Golden Gloves. He was very good, often winning his fights with quick knockouts in the first round in 1977 and 1978.
In 1979, he won the Light Heavyweight National Golden Gloves title. This win earned him a spot on the 1980 United States Olympic team. However, the USA decided not to send its athletes to the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. This was due to political reasons, so Lee Roy and his teammates could not compete.
Even though they couldn't go to the Olympics, Murphy and 460 other athletes received a special Congressional Gold Medal. This medal was created just for them. Instead of the Olympics, the U.S. team traveled to West Germany to compete against their national team. They also went to Kenya for an international boxing tournament called the Gold Cup. This event was for countries that boycotted the Olympics.
Lee Roy Murphy was very successful in his amateur career. He won many important tournaments, including multiple Golden Gloves titles. He also competed against boxers from other countries. He finished his amateur career with an impressive 162 victories.
In May 2022, Leeroy Murphy was honored by being inducted into the Hall of Fame for Los Angeles, California.
Lee Roy Murphy's Professional Boxing Career
Lee Roy Murphy was known as "Solid Gold" when he became a professional boxer in 1980. He quickly rose through the ranks. In 1984, he won the IBF Cruiserweight Title. He achieved this by defeating Marvin Camel with a technical knockout in the 14th round.
A technical knockout (TKO) happens when the referee stops the fight because one boxer cannot continue safely. Murphy successfully defended his title three times, showing he was a strong champion. However, he lost his title to Ricky Parkey in 1986.
After losing his championship, Murphy continued to box but faced some tough opponents. He lost to famous boxers like Dwight Muhammad Qawi in 1987 and Mike Evans in 1991. He decided to retire from boxing after his loss to Evans. However, he made a short comeback in 1998, winning both of his fights before retiring for good.
Overall, Lee Roy Murphy had a professional record of 30 wins (23 by knockout) and 4 losses.
Lee Roy Murphy's Family Life
Lee Roy Murphy has a brother named Kenny Murphy, who was also a professional boxer. Kenny fought for the WBA Cruiserweight Title in 1999. Kenny also won four Intercity Golden Gloves championships between 1977 and 1980.
Lee Roy is married to Barbara Murphy. They have one daughter named Ariel Murphy. He is now 64 years old and enjoys his retirement. He also has grandchildren named Matthew Townsend, Brooklyn Lewis, and Eloni Lewis.
Professional Boxing Record Summary
| 34 fights | 30 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 23 | 2 |
| By decision | 7 | 2 |
See also
- List of world cruiserweight boxing champions
