John Murray Steps Up for Khan
21.07.08
JOHN MURRAY STEPS UP, by Matthew Sanderson / Fight Photo Colin Messom
There’s a lot happening at lightweight in Britain.
Amir Khan brings athletic ability and name recognition to 135-pounds, but evades easy categorisation. Despite being big at the weight, his best foes have been blown up smaller men. Ranked #2 by the WBO, he has yet to prove himself the best of Britain, though it’s always an event when the Commonwealth champ fights.
Willie Limond – who once gave Khan a scare – gets a big chance when he takes on Dmitriy Salita, on the New York undercard to Calzaghe vs Jones. A well-schooled, sharp boxer Limond may lack the strength and power to win away from home, especially against a light welterweight.
Jonathan Thaxton is a compelling figure thanks to his combination of optimism and sheer competitive spirit. “Jono”, 33, won the British title at his third try (from Lee Meager) and in September will have a second crack at the EBU crown (after losing to Yuri Romanov), when he faces Spain’s talented Juan Carlos Diaz Melero.
Now in that mix is Manchester’s John Murray (25-0, 13), who trounced Lee Meager on July 11 to win the British title vacated by Thaxton. Breaking down the hard headed Meager in five, and taking very few clean shots along the way, Murray, 23, proved that all he needed was an occasion and an opponent of calibre, to show his best form.
After a frustrating six months, which saw Murray call out Thaxton in vain, and suffer an awkward opponent switch from John Fewkes to Youssef Al Hamidi in May, the Mancunian is enjoying his new prize:
“I’m over the moon. I’m chuffed to pieces with it (the Lonsdale belt),” Murray said fresh from his big win “I’ve just been showing it to my friends and family. It’s got a lot of history behind it.”
It was a fine performance, Murray showing off his arsenal of short punches against his aggressive Hennessy Sports stable-mate. Hooks, uppercuts, body shots and rights that seemed to travel little more than a few inches, all broke the 30-year-old down.
“We were working on shots like that in the gym,” revealed Murray. “We’ve been working on them for a few years. It’s the style of fighting I like (in the pocket). It’s become second nature to me.”
Though he unloaded lots of punches, Murray made sure not to leave himself open. He blocked many of Meager’s tries, and edged out of range when the former British champ tried to initiate the action. All was fought on the terms of Murray, who feels he isn’t getting credit for his ring generalship and solid defensive work.
“I have an underrated defence. In all my fights I take a lot of shots on arms and gloves. Sometimes it doesn’t suit me to come in rolling underneath shots.”
Added long-time trainer Joe Gallagher, “It’s (blocking and parrying) an art in itself. John Murray is tall for a lightweight. Lennox Lewis – did you ever see him rolling his head? Rolling your head doesn’t mean no one’s going to hit you. When the time comes that John Murray has to move his head, he will. I don’t think the John Murray guard got pierced that often (vs Meager).”
After months of waiting for his big chance, Murray is keen to make the most of his title and the opportunities it can bring. He’s eager to get his hands on Khan – in what might be the most compelling “Battle of Britain” out there right now – and feels confident he can win on a hostile promotion.
While such fights are usually left to get bigger, Murray feels that Khan should settle whom the best in Britain is, if he’s to prepare himself for higher levels (something Murray fully intends to do with his career).
Should Khan stop fighting super featherweights as well?
“I think so,” said Murray. “In interviews he can be very disrespectful. He’s starting to believe his own hype a bit too much. A lot of them (Khan's opponents) have been super feathers. Me, I’m a real lightweight with a lot of ambition.”
Gallagher is keen to point out that Murray is not trying to hang on to Khan’s coat tails. In an interview that can be seen here, Khan said he was ready to fight the Murray-Meager winner.
KHAN VIDEO INTERVIEW HERE
“That kid’s got guts,” said Gallagher, in admiration of Khan. “He showed it versus Limond. In the amateurs I’ve seen him go into a hostile environment and knock a kid out in two. Amir Khan has grit and determination. That could be his downfall.
“Khan said he’d fight John Murray if he won the British title. In the space of a few days he’s changed his tune. It’s not us calling Amir out. We didn’t say it. He said he’d fight the winner. We’re saying, ‘Alright, we’ve got the belt. Come and get it.’
“I just think the kid’s indecisive about his trainer, and indecisive about his opposition.”
Should Khan’s indecision continue, there is plenty out there for the new British king, who no longer needs to call people out, in order to remain busy and get good fights.
Murray won’t be short of challengers, with fighters like talented John Fewkes and Andrew Murray (current Irish champ, who spent the first two pro years fighting in London), and gritty Martin Gethin, all on the way up.
But those men will have to earn a crack at Murray first (indeed Fewkes and Gethin square off for Murray’s old English title). Murray is eager to keep on testing himself, and would love a crack at the winner between Melero and Thaxton for the EBU belt.
Regardless of who is next, Murray wants to remain active. “I want to be out again soon. There wasn’t much damage (against Meager). It wasn’t a gruelling fight (for me). Hopefully I’ll get out there and get the wagon rolling (in September). I’m coming of age. I’ve won the title at the right time.
“I’ve shown how good I am and it’s up to me to keep on proving myself in big fights.”
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