Murphy wants to 'repay the faith' against Pearson
Belfast's Colm Murphy says he wants to repay the faith shown in him when he takes on Luke Pearson for the vacant European silver featherweight title at Girdwood Community Hub on Saturday.
The 25-year-old has won all of his 14 professional contests, with five of those inside the distance, but takes a step up against Surrey's Pearson who is also yet to suffer a blemish on his record after 10 fights which have all gone to the scorecards.
A mandatory slot for the full European title is the prize and, therefore, it is a huge opportunity to make a significant breakthrough.
Murphy is already within touching distance of British and Commonwealth honours, but can take another major step forward in his career this weekend and give something back to those who have followed him from the beginning of his journey.
"I never wanted to let them down and show how far in the sport I can go," he told BBC Sport NI.
"Some people have never missed a fight. That's a lot of money that they've spent throughout their life and now look where I've got to with that.
"Some of those people, they were the ones who would have said when I was younger 'Murphy's going to make it if he keeps doing what he's doing'. They believed in me when I didn't believe in myself, so it's good to pay back that support with me making the best effort throughout the years."
'People thought I would quit'
Methodist College in Belfast is renowned for producing top-class stars in a range of sports, most notably rugby, but professional boxers have not been as plentiful.
Murphy was first drawn to the sweet science through the Rocky films and this prompted him to lace up the gloves.
Although some questioned that choice, national honours as an amateur and a professional have proven his ambitions were far from a pipedream.
"I didn't have a sport, or a sense of achievement or belonging," he explained.
"People in my class said, 'you'll give it up' and 'who do you think you are to do boxing?'.
"I stuck it out and kept up when people said I would quit."
Murphy, whose most recent win occurred on the BBC Nations Fight Night against Kasimu Hamad Haji in January, does not fit the typical stereotype attributed to boxers.
With a degree in Quantity Surveying and a Masters in Construction Law, many would question why he continues in a tough trade like professional boxing.
Those pathways will be there when he feels it's time to move on from the sport but there is still plenty to achieve for now.
On Saturday, he predicts his best will beat whatever Pearson can bring to the table and the past experiences of appearing on big fight cards will serve him well on his biggest night to date.
"It's a huge step up, but taking it in my stride," he said.
"I've done everything I could ask of myself, not even for this fight, but the last three or four. All the hard work I've put in over the last year and a half has given me a bit of a confidence boost.
"I've got a test on my hands against someone who's coming in fully anticipating to have that Rocky moment but I've prepared for the best version of Luke Pearson. I honestly believe the best version of me beats him easily."
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