The journeyman - Michael Murray

Books have been written about boxing before, often by sportwriters with no first-hand experience. Michael Murray writes as a boxer. His hopes, fears and emotions are those of a professional fighter. His story is not that of an internationally famous and wealthy sportsman, but of a journeyman doing his best to follow his trade and earn a living.The son of Jamaican immigrants, he writes poetically about his early years in Jamaica living with his aunt before he joined his parents in England. Though the fight game has dominated Michael's adult life, his talent for, and love of, music was recognised early on and led to his acceptance at the Royal Northern College of Music. His turbulent youth as a single parent and his discovery of Phil Martin's gym, Champs Camp, led to a profound change of direction. His early years as a boxer introduced him to discipline, pain and many unforgettable characters. His developing career, hampered by injuries, wasn't accompanied by great wealth. He did, however, earn the respect of all in the boxing business. Fighters, trainers, managers and promoters, including household names such as Tyson, Bruno and Lewis, all play their part in Michael Murray's story. THE JOURNEYMAN is far more than a litany of boxing encounters and anecdotes, although there are plenty of them here. It is the human, often moving story of a family man following wherever his talents take him. His boxing and musical skills already proven, his emerging flair as a writer gives us a rare insight into a world we would normally only observe from a distance.