Lee Purdy
# Lee Purdy

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. 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. 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.

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.

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.

## 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. 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 | 1 |
| No | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 26 | Loss | 20–5–1 | Leonard Bundu | TKO | 12 (12), 2:53 | 14 Dec 2013 | ExCel Arena, London Docklands, England | For EBU European welterweight title |
| 25 | Loss | 20–4–1 | Devon Alexander | RTD | 7 (12), 3:00 | 18 May 2013 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 20–3–1 | Cosme Rivera | TKO | 9 (12), 0:56 | 9 Mar 2013 | Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, England | Retained IBF International welterweight title |
| 23 | Win | 19–3–1 | Gumersindo Lucas Carrasco | TKO | 4 (12), 1:43 | 8 Sep 2012 | Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill, London, England | Won vacant IBF International welterweight title |
| 22 | Win | 18–3–1 | Chris Johnson | TKO | 1 (10), 2:18 | 7 Jul 2012 | Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England | |
| 21 | Win | 17–3–1 | Adnan Amar | TKO | 5 (10), 3:00 | 17 Mar 2012 | Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England | |
| 20 | Loss | 16–3–1 | Colin Lynes | MD | 12 | 9 Nov 2011 | York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England | |
| 19 | Win | 15–3–1 | Craig Watson | TKO | 5 (12), 2:00 | 16 Jul 2011 | Oldham Sports Centre, Manchester, England | Retained British welterweight title |
| 18 | Win | 14–3–1 | Craig Watson | TKO | 5 (12), 0:40 | 16 Apr 2011 | M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, England | Won British welterweight title |
| 17 | Win | 14–2–1 | Theophilus Tetteh | PTS | 8 | 10 Sep 2010 | York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England | |
| 16 | Loss | 13–2–1 | Denton Vassell | UD | 12 | 16 Apr 2010 | Robin Park Centre, Wigan, England | For vacant Commonwealth welterweight title |
| 15 | Win | 13–1–1 | Mark Douglas | TKO | 4 (10), 0:40 | 28 Nov 2009 | Brentwood Centre, Brentwood, Essex, England | Retained British Southern Area welterweight title |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Peter McDonagh | PTS | 10 | 5 Sep 2009 | Colosseum, Watford, England | Won vacant British Southern Area welterweight title |
| 13 | Win | 11–1–1 | Kevin McCauley | TKO | 2 (4), 1:29 | 18 Jul 2009 | York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England | |
| 12 | Win | 10–1–1 | Leonard Lothian | PTS | 4 | 28 Feb 2009 | Norwich Showground, Norwich, England | |
| 11 | Loss | 9–1–1 | Peter McDonagh | PTS | 10 | 13 Dec 2008 | Brentwood Centre, Brentwood, Essex, England | For British Southern Area super lightweight title |
| 10 | Win | 9–0–1 | Adam Kelly | TKO | 5 (6), 2:42 | 8 Nov 2008 | York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England | |
| 9 | Win | 8–0–1 | Johnny Greaves | TKO | 3 (6), 2:32 | 4 Oct 2008 | Norwich Showground, Norwich, England | |
| 8 | Draw | 7–0–1 | Geoffrey Munika | PTS | 6 | 27 Jun 2008 | York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Jamie Spence | TKO | 1 (6), 2:11 | 4 Apr 2008 | York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Craig Dyer | TKO | 1 (4), 1:47 | 25 Jan 2008 | Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, England | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Johnny Greaves | PTS | 6 | 25 Nov 2007 | Hippodrome Nightclub, Colchester, Essex, England | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Ben Hudson | PTS | 6 | 1 Jul 2007 | Hippodrome Nightclub, Colchester, Essex, England | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Duncan Cottier | PTS | 4 | 16 Jun 2007 | Prince Regent Hotel, Chigwell, Essex, England | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Kristian Laight | PTS | 4 | 16 Mar 2007 | Norwich Showground, Norwich, England | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Deniss Sirjatovs | TKO | 3 (4), 2:10 | 8 Dec 2006 | Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, England | |
