Harlingen cruiserweight Raphael Murphy doesn’t fight all that often, so when a chance comes along to get back into the boxing ring, he’s always ready.
The next opportunity to fight for Murphy (11-0, nine knockouts) is Saturday in the main event of the Extreme Fight Night show at the Golazo soccer facility located at 5704 N. Gumwood St. in Pharr. Ten boxing and mixed martial arts matches are scheduled on the card presented by Texas Rage and South Texas Fighting Academy.
“I’m very excited and it feels good to be back fighting in the Valley, said Murphy, a Chicago native who has called Harlingen home for the past five years or so. “Just to know that I’ve got that date set (to fight) and an opponent lined up, I just can’t wait for Feb. 25 to come.”
Murphy is scheduled to fight a six-round main event against German Garcia (3-0, three KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico.
Murphy said he might be fighting against Garcia as a heavyweight, which is something he’s done before.
“I’ve heard Garcia is a tough fighter and they tell me it’s going to be a good test,” said Murphy, who last fought July 30, 2016, in Indiana and defeated Skylar Thompson on a technical knockout. “I’ve been training hard to get ready for this bout, so we’ll see what happens.
“My career has been a long road (with my fights spread out), so every fight is like a world championship fight to me,” Murphy added. “This guy (Garcia) is undefeated, I’m undefeated, and it doesn’t really mean anything (once we step into the ring). It’ll be a fight and we’ll see who’s the best.”
Murphy has Don King as his promoter. He said if things go well Saturday, he has been told another fight could be in the works within the next 90 days.
“Hopefully everything works out well for me,” Murphy said.
Other boxers on Saturday’s show include Mercedes’ Josette “No Joke” Rodriguez, Weslaco’s Pablo “El Finito” Ramirez, McAllen’s Roel Moreno Jr. and McAllen’s Genaro “Gino” de la Paz. MMA fighters on the card include Brownsville’s Guadalupe Urbina, Roma’s Fernando Ramirez and San Juan’s Sonny Aguirre.
For ticket information, call (956) 456-5786 or (956) 460-7808.
UPCOMING
Weslaco super bantamweight Brandon Lee Figueroa (10-0, eight KOs) is scheduled to fight Tuesday in Houston against Raul Chirino (10-4, five KOs) of Florida. The bout is expected to be broadcast live on Fox Sports Southwest.
