Billy Joe Saunders vs. Martin Murray - 23 June 2018

[Old Jack J]

Tickover fight for BJS. Just playing the waiting game.

[Jackson328]

MM is past his peak but has the experience and ring savvy to keep Billy honest and I think thats what Ingle is looking at.

And there in microcosm is much of what is wrong with boxing today. Captures the fact it's essentially a glorified spar

I'm not disagreeing mate but anyone who thinks a current champion should only fight the best contender is just being naive, it simply doesn't work like that and I think you know this. As far as allegedly and Ingle are concerned this fight is about Billy Joe NOT Martin Murray and its about keeping Saunders busy and focused before a hopeful fight with the winner of GGG/Canelo. FW isn't counting the amount of title shots Murray has already had, he really doesn't care because he just wants to give BJS a 'safe' fight against an opponent who will provide a good workout without too much risk of an upset.

Personally I would love to see Martin pull it off and win a title at long last as it would make a great fairy tale but also because I come from the same part of the world as him. So yes, I am biased

[Stuarty]

Long night for Murray here.

[bigjack]

Murray must have some photos of someone in awkward situation to be getting a 5th title fight.

I think he was present at the match room / sky sports / alphabet groups international meeting with the smith family. The Smiths and Murray cleverly took photos of the enormous gay satanic bestial orgy that took place. All the participants in world and British boxing are now under the thumb of the Smiths and Murray. They are the real power brokers of world boxing.

Ps I have seen some of the photos and they’re not pretty. Eddeh Hearns in particular is very lucky to not be in a wheelchair.

I knew he had something on them

[Deserter]

MM is past his peak but has the experience and ring savvy to keep Billy honest and I think thats what Ingle is looking at.

And there in microcosm is much of what is wrong with boxing today. Captures the fact it's essentially a glorified spar

I'm not disagreeing mate but anyone who thinks a current champion should only fight the best contender is just being naive,

But I haven't said that at any point. What I would expect (as a punter rather than one of his management team) is for him to fight someone who can at least provide a semblance of being competitive. I've got no axe to grind with Murray, but he's had his chances, is past his best and I defy anyone to forecast a fight that doesn't involve him plodding forward in straight lines while BJS picks him off and chalks up the rounds for one-sided UD.
I don't think we're disagreeing particularly, it's just you're thinking through the prism of his management team and I'm thinking of the paying spectator/viewer... and I'm honestly struggling to think of a more uninspiring match-up for a world title headliner.

[Taansend]

MM is past his peak but has the experience and ring savvy to keep Billy honest and I think thats what Ingle is looking at.

And there in microcosm is much of what is wrong with boxing today. Captures the fact it's essentially a glorified spar

I don't know about today, mate. How many of Ali's fights were little more than glorified sparring?

[Deserter]

MM is past his peak but has the experience and ring savvy to keep Billy honest and I think thats what Ingle is looking at.

And there in microcosm is much of what is wrong with boxing today. Captures the fact it's essentially a glorified spar

I don't know about today, mate. How many of Ali's fights were little more than glorified sparring?

I hear ya fella, but to paraphrase an old saying, BJS is no Ali

[Taansend]

And there in microcosm is much of what is wrong with boxing today. Captures the fact it's essentially a glorified spar

I don't know about today, mate. How many of Ali's fights were little more than glorified sparring?

I hear ya fella, but to paraphrase an old saying, BJS is no Ali

I know. I'm not talking about the fighters. I'm just saying that not every title defence is a big one. I suppose BJS deserves an easier bout after his masterpiece in Canada & they just need to keep him busy while waiting for the winner of May 5th.

Jacobs is too much risk for too little money (& with Hearn). Ditto Charlo & Andrade. Murray is somehow still rated very highly, even by Boxrec who have him at 9.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Glad to see he's keeping busy, he needs to stay active to build on his last performance.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Glad to see he's keeping busy, he needs to stay active to build on his last performance.

Yup. His resume is going to start looking better. Monroe, Lemieux, Murray

[jamamb]

ya you can already pretty much add a win over reliable old martin to his resume cant you

[Jackson328]

And there in microcosm is much of what is wrong with boxing today. Captures the fact it's essentially a glorified spar

I'm not disagreeing mate but anyone who thinks a current champion should only fight the best contender is just being naive,

But I haven't said that at any point. What I would expect (as a punter rather than one of his management team) is for him to fight someone who can at least provide a semblance of being competitive. I've got no axe to grind with Murray, but he's had his chances, is past his best and I defy anyone to forecast a fight that doesn't involve him plodding forward in straight lines while BJS picks him off and chalks up the rounds for one-sided UD.
I don't think we're disagreeing particularly, it's just you're thinking through the prism of his management team and I'm thinking of the paying spectator/viewer... and I'm honestly struggling to think of a more uninspiring match-up for a world title headliner.

Fair points well made, yes I suppose I am looking at it from a career management point of view and I completely understand that its not a very attractive fight for most people. I don't have much hope for Murray in this bout either, he's been cherry-picked to keep Saunders ticking over but I'll still watch and hope he can somehow find something.

[samwbr]

Glad to see he's keeping busy, he needs to stay active to build on his last performance.

Yup. His resume is going to start looking better. Monroe, Lemieux, Murray

Monroe isn't a particularly impressive name IMO, he's quite average.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Monroe isn't a particularly impressive name IMO, he's quite average.

I agree, but after Akavov, it's Monroe doesn't sound too bad after being out for nearly a year.

[jamamb]

ya agree with deserter. certainly can see the sense from team bjs perspective, but as a fan its truly boring as eff

i appreciate the realities of boxing and that every fight cant be good and that bjs just fought a more interesting opponent, but that doesnt mean this isnt a totally drab, predictable fight involving a challenger whose not far off being a record holder for most world title challenges without a win. he pretty much fails to win vs everyone of note he fights.

nothing personally against murray but as a fan i just cant stand recycled to the max fighters like him


tbh, id actually prefer some random can who bjs could at least end things earlier and with a stoppage over

[Deserter]

I don't know about today, mate. How many of Ali's fights were little more than glorified sparring?

I hear ya fella, but to paraphrase an old saying, BJS is no Ali

I know. I'm not talking about the fighters. I'm just saying that not every title defence is a big one. I suppose BJS deserves an easier bout after his masterpiece in Canada & they just need to keep him busy while waiting for the winner of May 5th.

Jacobs is too much risk for too little money (& with Hearn). Ditto Charlo & Andrade. Murray is somehow still rated very highly, even by Boxrec who have him at 9.

I know you're not fella, I was being a bit tongue in cheek, but basically janamb has summed up my sentiments - an easier bout is fine within reason, but Murray is just a terrible choice, even given that context.

[Deserter]

I'm not disagreeing mate but anyone who thinks a current champion should only fight the best contender is just being naive,

But I haven't said that at any point. What I would expect (as a punter rather than one of his management team) is for him to fight someone who can at least provide a semblance of being competitive. I've got no axe to grind with Murray, but he's had his chances, is past his best and I defy anyone to forecast a fight that doesn't involve him plodding forward in straight lines while BJS picks him off and chalks up the rounds for one-sided UD.
I don't think we're disagreeing particularly, it's just you're thinking through the prism of his management team and I'm thinking of the paying spectator/viewer... and I'm honestly struggling to think of a more uninspiring match-up for a world title headliner.

Fair points well made, yes I suppose I am looking at it from a career management point of view and I completely understand that its not a very attractive fight for most people. I don't have much hope for Murray in this bout either, he's been cherry-picked to keep Saunders ticking over but I'll still watch and hope he can somehow find something.

[fightfan95]

I think we will see another boxing master class from Billy here. I don't see nothing Murray can do to trouble Billy. This fight makes sense for both parties; Murray is a well-known British fighter and has been in numerous world title fights so the name will look good on Billy's record and its another shot at a world title for Martin.

[jamamb]

does murrays name really still look good on a resume? for what, failing to win every pretty much every notable pro fight hes ever had?

[fizzjambo]

does murrays name really still look good on a resume? for what, failing to win every pretty much every notable pro fight hes ever had?

Your being a bit daft now. It’s not just about losing fights, it’s as much to do with how those fights played out. If he’s been sparked or shutout in his title fights I’d agree but a decent number think he beat Sturm in Germany (I’m one of them) and Martinez in Argentina (not me). Compare his world title performances to Kevin Mitchell who got pasted by Burns and Katsidis and on the back of a good back and forth performance vs Linares many thought he deserved a fourth shot. I’d rather watch Mitchell than Murray but Murray is more deserving

[jamamb]

im just telling it like it is. murrays failed to win pretty much every notable fight. hes going on 36 and his best win was a majority decision vs fellow high profile loser gabe rosado, a guy who multiple bjs opponents beat way easier. hes going for 0 out of 5 in title fights

i really dont think his names rated all that much anymore when hes been recycled so many times, is getting on, and has never had a really standout win.

mostly when murrays mentioned its about how he can never pull it outand how these types of fights are just ultra predictable

this fight makes sense to keep bjs active but its still and i dont agree on murray having much name value.

[bigjack]

does murrays name really still look good on a resume? for what, failing to win every pretty much every notable pro fight hes ever had?

Your being a bit daft now. It’s not just about losing fights, it’s as much to do with how those fights played out. If he’s been sparked or shutout in his title fights I’d agree but a decent number think he beat Sturm in Germany (I’m one of them) and Martinez in Argentina (not me). Compare his world title performances to Kevin Mitchell who got pasted by Burns and Katsidis and on the back of a good back and forth performance vs Linares many thought he deserved a fourth shot. I’d rather watch Mitchell than Murray but Murray is more deserving

It's his 5th try for gods sake,how can he be more deserving than anyone else,it's a crap fight and is about as predictable as you can get in boxing.

[whiskey]

It's probably a few years too late this.

[ElJefe]

Murray is definitely past his prime but a decent enough name to add to a very healthy resume. Spike, Ryder, Eubank, Lee, Monroe and Lemieux isn't half bad to be fair. We've seen the drop off in Billy's performances when he takes too long out. The year between Lee and Akavov did him no favours. It's a routine title defence and probably won't be a great fight to watch but it's better for him in the long term to stay active. For a relatively quick turnaround there's probably not many better fighters who'd take it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Saunders said: "Martin Murray is a good fighter and I have got the greatest of respect for him. But he’s in the way of what I’m aiming for this year and that is to become Undisputed Middleweight World Champion. He’s coming try and win my world title and I’m sure it’s going to be a good fight!

“The Lemieux fight is behind me now. To be honest, Martin Murray brings more of a threat than Lemieux.

“Martin, in my opinion, should've been world champion twice. People say he’s aged or whatever, but you only have to look at his last few performances to still it’s still there.

"I take my hat off to him for taking the fight and I'm happy to give him the opportunity to fight,” added the 28-year-old champion, who reiterated his intention to retire by his early thirties."

http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2018/01/ ... id-lemieux