Khan says No, but Murray says Yes.

TJAY · Post by **TJAY** » 09 Jan 2008, 13:39

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_3031- ... s-Yes.html

Current English lightweight champion John Murray is ready to step into the void left by Amir Khan and take on Jon Thaxton for his British title and possibly the vacant Commonwealth title, if Amir Khan is stripped by the Commonwealth committee.

Unbeaten Murray today told BBN, "I'm disappointed that the Thaxton-Khan fight won't happen as it would have been a great fight, but in a selfish way I am glad because I now may finally get the chance I have been waiting for."

"Thaxton and his team have been chasing Khan and now that fight is dead, I'd be happy to vacate the English title and fight Thaxton for his belt.

"I've beaten Dean Hickman and the Mexican in Vegas, who were both tough kids, in the last couple of months but the Thaxton fight is the one that put's the fear in me, a little like the Kostya Tszyu fight did for Ricky Hatton, these are the kind of fights that I am hungry for.

"Thaxton is a great pro and a great role model, but I believe the time is right for me to face him, people have said I have beaten a bunch of nobodies, so for Thaxton it should be an easy defence of his Lonsdale belt, he only needs to beat me to keep it forever.

"Now that Khan has pulled out, Thaxton is left without a mandatory challenger, and I doubt he will have a fight for the next four or five months, I'm happy to step into the ring with him and I'll take that chance with both hands.

"I want the fight and it can be made easily, I'll do what Scott Lawton did and give up the English belt for a shot at the British title. I'm ready for my shot at the British title. Who else can Thaxton fight in Britain now, I'm English champion so I should be given the chance to fight for the British title.

“Sports Network got Khan his shot at their number one Graham Earl, so I'm now hoping that I can get a shot at the number one in the Hennessy camp.”

Murray's trainer Joe Gallagher added "It's a fight that can be made and one that John really wants, no disrespect to John Fewkes, but we'd rather fight for the British title and maybe even the Commonwealth title.

"And it will also give us a chance to see just how good John Murray is, I think it's a real 50/50 fight and if John loses so what, we can come back, but if he wins he will be British champion.

"Domestically I can't see there being anyone else for Thaxton to fight if he wants to try and win the Lonsdale belt outright. These are the sort of fights that John wants and needs."

whicker · Post by **whicker** » 09 Jan 2008, 13:48

Yeah, fair enough- should be a cracking fight, anyway.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 09 Jan 2008, 13:56

Fair play- let the 2 gritty real domestic lightweights battle it out for #1 spot, whilst Khan participates in his fake cartoon boxing for the know nothing terrestrial TV Calzaghe/Hatton/Khan 'fans'.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 09 Jan 2008, 14:29

I'm psychic.

NaFianna · Post by **NaFianna** » 09 Jan 2008, 15:28

Khan's a "good fighter" but doesn't like taking chances which will disallow him from being a "great fighter".

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 09 Jan 2008, 15:30

NaFianna wrote:Khan's a "good fighter" but doesn't like taking chances which will disallow him from being a "great fighter".

Too early to say that - he is only a pup.

Time will tell.

Asterix · Post by **Asterix** » 09 Jan 2008, 15:48

NaFianna wrote:Khan's a "good fighter" but doesn't like taking chances which will disallow him from being a "great fighter".

Who's to say that the Thaxton fight not going ahead right now is because of a decision Amir Khan has made? I think Thaxton priced himself out and Khan would love the fight.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Jan 2008, 15:49

It looks like he wants the Kristianson fight, which will get him a good WBO rating.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 10 Jan 2008, 07:07

If he doesnt test himself against a Thaxton or a Murray, he wont be ready for a Katsidis.

Katsidis wont fall down for him like Earl. All these feather dusters wont have prepared him for Katsidis firepower.

Ominous.

observer1 · Post by **observer1** » 10 Jan 2008, 07:46

Amir Khan is rushing into this Youngest Champion thing a little too much,

it would be ideal to take down Thaxton before any other major opponent

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 10 Jan 2008, 07:57

Rare for Observer to say anything negative about Khan.... fans deserting him?

observer1 · Post by **observer1** » 10 Jan 2008, 09:27

lolz, not being a fanboy at all..

Just saying, he should take it easy.

but then again, he knows himself better than i do, so im not gonna critisize him

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 10 Jan 2008, 09:58

He's not going to fight Juan Diaz for the WBO title so the closet he is going to get to breaking the record is beating Katsides for the intrim belt. Unless of course he moves up and relives Rees

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 10 Jan 2008, 10:00

Anyone else expect Kasistdas to be stripped for some unforeseen reason.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 10 Jan 2008, 10:07

Stripped of an interim title, that would be something

Datsue · Post by **Datsue** » 10 Jan 2008, 10:16

Lenny wrote:Stripped of an interim title, that would be something

Yeah, they're more likely to make it an Interstitial Interim Championship fight, or something.

Maybe then he can "unify" his fragment of the world title, like what Alex Arthur's done.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 10 Jan 2008, 10:21

This'll be a guarenteed cracking blood and guts affair

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 10 Jan 2008, 10:31

Make the fight Hennessey. If Murray can stop Thaxton, he will get favourable comparisons to Hatton and make us forget that fight with the Mexican Munguia. I think Murray can do it.

At best Murray picks his shots beautifully. He does seem slow on his fee though. Hope Murray goes far. He definitely does have some quality when he's inspired.

tyson · Post by **tyson** » 11 Jan 2008, 12:30

Possible domestic fight (war) of the year, sorry just remembered Haye V Enzo .
Well it could be one of them

Rob Magic · Post by **Rob Magic** » 12 Jan 2008, 08:30

overhand_right wrote:If he doesnt test himself against a Thaxton or a Murray, he wont be ready for a Katsidis.

Katsidis wont fall down for him like Earl. All these feather dusters wont have prepared him for Katsidis firepower.

Ominous.

I totally agree, if Kahn's going down the WBO route like so many Warren fighters do and Katsidis is the champ i would strongly recommend kahn going in with some half decent hitters to prepare himself for the power he will be facing against Katsidis. Getting a few taps from the fighters he's been facing then get an almighty wallop from Katsidis, BIG difference.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 12 Jan 2008, 10:29

Could be. But when Khan develops, and when we realise Katsidis actually isn't as good as ppl want him to be...Khan's natural speed, quick movement and finishing instincts could cancel out his own china chin/lack of great fundamentals and cancel out Katsidis. Katsidis, who has hell with Earl telling us what level the Aussie-Greek is REALLY at.

But obviously, we want a clear solid series of steps up...Thaxton, Romanov, Katsidis. Definitely, these fights would teach him a lot but these days it's more important to win the elim, pick up the title first, control whom you defend against with a series of calculated risks and then when it's time to cash in, take the big money, meaningful fight.

Rob Magic · Post by **Rob Magic** » 13 Jan 2008, 08:26

Autobarn wrote:Could be. But when Khan develops, and when we realise Katsidis actually isn't as good as ppl want him to be...Khan's natural speed, quick movement and finishing instincts could cancel out his own china chin/lack of great fundamentals and cancel out Katsidis. Katsidis, who has hell with Earl telling us what level the Aussie-Greek is REALLY at.

But obviously, we want a clear solid series of steps up...Thaxton, Romanov, Katsidis. Definitely, these fights would teach him a lot but these days it's more important to win the elim, pick up the title first, control whom you defend against with a series of calculated risks and then when it's time to cash in, take the big money, meaningful fight.

eg..Calzaghe

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 13 Jan 2008, 08:35

Rob Magic wrote:
Autobarn wrote:Could be. But when Khan develops, and when we realise Katsidis actually isn't as good as ppl want him to be...Khan's natural speed, quick movement and finishing instincts could cancel out his own china chin/lack of great fundamentals and cancel out Katsidis. Katsidis, who has hell with Earl telling us what level the Aussie-Greek is REALLY at.

But obviously, we want a clear solid series of steps up...Thaxton, Romanov, Katsidis. Definitely, these fights would teach him a lot but these days it's more important to win the elim, pick up the title first, control whom you defend against with a series of calculated risks and then when it's time to cash in, take the big money, meaningful fight.
eg..Calzaghe

True.

But back to the subject at hand. Khan doesn't want Thaxton. Murray does. So make the fight Hennessey. Murray has that finesse that Meager lacks, so we'll see some smart aggression vs Thaxton's free swinging, switch hitting. It's a fight too good to pass up on.

Sky need to keep us interested with its 1 or 2 world champs in action (Haye, Witter) and some young fighters in meaningful matchups. Sky Sports need an efficient (not anonymous) boxing programme with regular quality fights. Murray-Thaxton is so bloody obvious, what are they all waiting for?

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 14 Jan 2008, 11:52

Like to see the purses. Will Thaxton be getting £125k for that?

grim reaper · Post by **grim reaper** » 14 Jan 2008, 12:21

That would be interesting SN winning purse bids for Murray v Thaxton and putting it on Setanta .