Lee Purdy
- Light welterweight
- Welterweight
Lee Purdy (born 29 May 1987) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to 2013. He held the British welterweight title in 2011, challenged once for the vacant Commonwealth welterweight title in 2010 and once for the EBU European welterweight title in 2013.
Professional boxing career
British Champion
Purdy claimed the British title with a win over Craig Watson via 5th round stoppage to become Colchesters first British boxing champion at the MEN Arena in Manchester on 16 April 2011.[1] This victory was followed up in his first defence on 16 July 2011 with another victory over Watson, this time in Oldham and with another stoppage in the 5th round. Despite starting brightly, Watson began to be worn down in the third round as two heavy shots from Purdy landed. Eventually after Watson was knocked down twice in the 5th, the referee called a halt to the contest.[2] Purdy lost the title in his second defence against former British light welterweight champion Colin Lynes. Purdy lost a majority points decision to Lynes after getting up off the canvas in the 10th to produce a strong finish.[3]
On 18 May 2013, Lee Purdy fought Devon Alexander at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ. The bout was originally scheduled for the IBF welterweight title but Purdy failed to make the weight. Purdy took the fight at 4 weeks notice after Kell Brook pulled out with a hand injury. The fight was controversially stopped by Purdys trainer (Darren Barker) in the 7th round, although Purdy was not hurt at any stage throughout the fight and was looking to come on strong in the later rounds.
Alleged money laundering offence
In August 2013 Purdy was charged with money laundering along with five other people in what was believed to be a £1 million scam against elderly people. He was due to appear at Colchester Magistrates Court in September 2013. Purdy, as well as the other accused, denied the charges. Lee Purdy was found not guilty by unanimous verdict (jury) of money laundering. He thanked everyone who had supported him via Twitter.[citation needed]
After several operations on a detached retina suffered during the Leonard Bundu fight in December 2013, Purdy is expected to return to the ring in 2015 and would possibly meet the winner of the Frankie Gavin and Bradley Skeete bout for the British title.[citation needed]
Retirement
After sustaining a severed and detached retina in a fight with European welterweight champion Leonard Bundu in late 2013, Purdy was forced to retire from the sport of boxing.[4] His promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed the retirement in an interview with iFLTV on 16 February 2015.
Professional boxing record
26 fights | 20 wins | 5 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 13 | 2 |
By decision | 7 | 3 |
Draws | 1 |
No | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 | Loss | 20–5–1 | ![]() | TKO | 12 (12), 2:53 | 14 Dec 2013 | ![]() | For EBU European welterweight title |
25 | Loss | 20–4–1 | ![]() | RTD | 7 (12), 3:00 | 18 May 2013 | ![]() | |
24 | Win | 20–3–1 | ![]() | TKO | 9 (12), 0:56 | 9 Mar 2013 | ![]() | Retained IBF International welterweight title |
23 | Win | 19–3–1 | ![]() | TKO | 4 (12), 1:43 | 8 Sep 2012 | ![]() | Won vacant IBF International welterweight title |
22 | Win | 18–3–1 | ![]() | TKO | 1 (10), 2:18 | 7 Jul 2012 | ![]() | |
21 | Win | 17–3–1 | ![]() | TKO | 5 (10), 3:00 | 17 Mar 2012 | ![]() | |
20 | Loss | 16–3–1 | ![]() | MD | 12 | 9 Nov 2011 | ![]() | |
19 | Win | 15–3–1 | ![]() | TKO | 5 (12), 2:00 | 16 Jul 2011 | ![]() | Retained British welterweight title |
18 | Win | 14–3–1 | ![]() | TKO | 5 (12), 0:40 | 16 Apr 2011 | ![]() | Won British welterweight title |
17 | Win | 14–2–1 | ![]() | PTS | 8 | 10 Sep 2010 | ![]() | |
16 | Loss | 13–2–1 | ![]() | UD | 12 | 16 Apr 2010 | ![]() | For vacant Commonwealth welterweight title |
15 | Win | 13–1–1 | ![]() | TKO | 4 (10), 0:40 | 28 Nov 2009 | ![]() | Retained British Southern Area welterweight title |
14 | Win | 12–1–1 | ![]() | PTS | 10 | 5 Sep 2009 | ![]() | Won vacant British Southern Area welterweight title |
13 | Win | 11–1–1 | ![]() | TKO | 2 (4), 1:29 | 18 Jul 2009 | ![]() | |
12 | Win | 10–1–1 | ![]() | PTS | 4 | 28 Feb 2009 | ![]() | |
11 | Loss | 9–1–1 | ![]() | PTS | 10 | 13 Dec 2008 | ![]() | For British Southern Area super lightweight title |
10 | Win | 9–0–1 | ![]() | TKO | 5 (6), 2:42 | 8 Nov 2008 | ![]() | |
9 | Win | 8–0–1 | ![]() | TKO | 3 (6), 2:32 | 4 Oct 2008 | ![]() | |
8 | Draw | 7–0–1 | ![]() | PTS | 6 | 27 Jun 2008 | ![]() | |
7 | Win | 7–0 | ![]() | TKO | 1 (6), 2:11 | 4 Apr 2008 | ![]() | |
6 | Win | 6–0 | ![]() | TKO | 1 (4), 1:47 | 25 Jan 2008 | ![]() | |
5 | Win | 5–0 | ![]() | PTS | 6 | 25 Nov 2007 | ![]() | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | ![]() | PTS | 6 | 1 Jul 2007 | ![]() | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | ![]() | PTS | 4 | 16 Jun 2007 | ![]() | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | ![]() | PTS | 4 | 16 Mar 2007 | ![]() | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | ![]() | TKO | 3 (4), 2:10 | 8 Dec 2006 | ![]() |