Khan Sept Opponent?

[Autobarn]

I think they're both cracking young fighters. Khan will probably go an international/intercontinental route hopefully vs blokes his own size now. Rios, Arthur (if he's still WBO 130 champ who has outgrown 130)...Murray will probably go domestic and European route. Hopefully both get past these levels with no hiccups and meet in a very big fight one day. Should be good viewing, even if they don't meet before then.

[DavidPayne]

Forbes fights for the WBC 147 title in October on HBO.

[Loftgroov]

After the Thaxton fight, I'd like to see Khan v Yuri Romanov.

(Khan would lose)

[Captain Hook]

I can confidently say Khan would beat Murray because he is quicker, has lightning hand speed, is more accurate, punches very hard and has ten times more ability.

Murray may catch him with the odd shot and maybe have in trouble during the fight, but I personally don't see him winning. That's my opinion and Im sticking to it

He struggled with Hamidi and has beaten Lee Meager in his last two fights. If I were Khan I'd be looking for better than that having disposed of Gomez, Earl, St Clair and co....Forbes is a good idea.

Khan has looked fragile and a little inconsistent, but he's still world class and will be a world champion if he tightens his defence. Murray is Euro class at best. No shame in that, he's a good boxer, but not as good as Khan.

They're both potential world class. Both lads have titles now and both will get better and better.

Khan accurate? Fast, explosive, good finisher. But hardly accurate - because he's a flashy, flurry fighter - and leaves his chin up in the air when he wades in. Anyone with an accurate, hard punch and a calm enough temperament like a Murray or Romanov will pose a serious risk, and if Khan is WBO #2, they are unlikely to take that risk. Murray is willing to take that risk. Romanov is willing to take that risk.

Khan is 10 times flashier than Murray, but flashiness doesn't always mean that much. In Britain, flashiness = fast hands, fast feet, improv technique and a wide open defence. Khan is akin to the Yank former ama stars like Dirrell and Ward. Murray's a superbly well schooled pressure fighter, who doesn't rely on things like natural speed. Both very promising. Murray needs the oportunities (which will come now he has British title) & Khan just needs tightening up technically by that Cuban guy in Miami. That haye turned out well from similar experience bodes well for Amr, maybe.

I never mentioned the word flashy once! Half your argument is based on it.

And you agree he needs to tighten up, something I mentioned.

Murray is good, I acknowledged that, but he's not as good as Khan in MY OPINION. Simple.

[Lenny]

Currently Murray is just far too much of a plodder. Good array of punches, strong, tough, decent defense, but I feel if Khan can stay focused for 12 (a la St Clair) then Murray is just too slow and ponderous. Khan on the backfoot scores an easy UD or late stoppage.

People compare Murray to a young Hatton but there is a million miles of difference in their footwork and speed. He'll do well against come forward fighters but i'm not convinced he'd beat Fewkes let alone Khan. Would be a good fight for Khan to take at this stage though and will win him the British title

[Loftgroov]

Murray is British/European level at best. Far too one dimensional to be world class. He is too "British" in style.

He's generally laboured to points wins or later round stoppages against halfass/mediocre opposition.

How you can look at his record and suggest he is destined for great things I don't know.

[Autobarn]

Murray didn't look good vs Munguia or Hamidi. But he looked great vs Hickman and Meager. I have a feeling he's going to get better & better, now that his career has started to be planned with something called progress in mind. He does have a British style - it's a Manchester style, educated pressure. Always thought he had big potential, and I'm glad that he's delivering because I knew he could. Right now Murray is 2006 young FOTY and British champ after a brilliant performance. Things can start going right for him again.

When Khan is blasting Earl out and Murray destroying Meager, I think both fighters have shown they can go far.

Khan world level, Murray Euro level? Not seen Khan try for the European title yet. Murray does seem more interested in that belt. Winning at Euro level is an achievement at lightweight - see Thaxton's challenge to Romanov! - but I won't be surprised to see both fighters go beyond that. Right now Khan has to wait for some kind of loophole, some champ who gets stripped or who will give up his title rather than go to England, as he has that rating but is still a few fights off world level (IMO).

[Captain Hook]

I think that's a fair assessment, mentioned it previously in another thread.

Murray may get a world title shot one day because he's solid and on his day he performs well, a la Meager.

It's whether he gets the shot. In that sense he has a touch of Jamie More about him. He's certainly got potential.

[Captain Hook]

Jamie Moore........

[Autobarn]

I think that's a fair assessment, mentioned it previously in another thread.

Murray may get a world title shot one day because he's solid and on his day he performs well, a la Meager.

It's whether he gets the shot. In that sense he has a touch of Jamie More about him. He's certainly got potential.

I just think it boils down to this, re Khan & Murray:

Murray can certainly fight inside. He seems to have all the nuances. And the strength. BUT, the question is, can he hunt down the fast, flashy guys with fast feet? (Melero, Fewkes) Can he deal with the southpaws? (Thaxton) Plenty at the weight, domestic-Euro level, to find out.

Khan has great speed of hand and foot. BUT, can he learn to fight up close? Can he learn to settle down when he has an opponent that he wants to finish? It could be a big disadvantage, if he can't, if there are some good Mexican hardcases gunning for him (ala Antillon, Soto).

Can Murray beat a fast, mobile boxer on a running track?

Can Khan beat an infighter in a telephone booth?

These are the 2 areas that both could slip up, IF things went wrong.

If Murray and Khan can show these extra elements, and answer the questions, I think they go all the way. I also think that both could beat Romanov in a couple of fights time. Romanov can be pushed back and outworked (see Earl) and can have nightmares vs mobile opponents (Melero & Zoff). If either one manages this, I will say that they have reached world class.

[scrap iron]

Murray didn't look good vs Munguia or Hamidi. But he looked great vs Hickman and Meager. I have a feeling he's going to get better & better, now that his career has started to be planned with something called progress in mind. He does have a British style - it's a Manchester style, educated pressure. Always thought he had big potential, and I'm glad that he's delivering because I knew he could. Right now Murray is 2006 young FOTY and British champ after a brilliant performance. Things can start going right for him again.

When Khan is blasting Earl out and Murray destroying Meager, I think both fighters have shown they can go far.

Khan world level, Murray Euro level? Not seen Khan try for the European title yet. Murray does seem more interested in that belt. Winning at Euro level is an achievement at lightweight - see Thaxton's challenge to Romanov! - but I won't be surprised to see both fighters go beyond that. Right now Khan has to wait for some kind of loophole, some champ who gets stripped or who will give up his title rather than go to England, as he has that rating but is still a few fights off world level (IMO).

Good assessment.

[EddieShredder]

Apparently Gainer wants it again now.... from boxingtalk.com;

As soon as he learned of the Jones-Calzaghe fight getting postponed, former WBA featherweight champion Derrick "Smoke" Gainer has already informed allegedly's matchmaker, that he's ready, willing and able to face undefeated up and comer Amir Khan, who has yet to find an opponent, on September 6. "It was a great opportunity, it was just too close to Roy's fight. Now that that's been pushed back, I'm ready to go to England and hand him his first loss," said Gainer.

[Dioufy]

And there was me thinking that it really could be Gavin Rees.

[DG.]

Here is his opponent, well, he is on the 'short list'

He might KO Khan!

http://macsim.labolinux.net/public/Blog ... ini_me.jpg

[Exoddus]

He might take up his offer. Superfeather weights are too risky for Khan. Better start to fight some featherweights instead.

If he gets hurt. Expect the next fight to be against a bantamweight.

[jomothepure]

A fight with Gainer is 3 years and 10lbs past having any meaning. Some vague cashing-in of kudos airmiles among the casual fans with Gainer being American and a former world champion. But when is Frank going to let the risk/reward balance even out a little? If Khan wants Jaws he needs to be fighting live fish, not battered bait. Why is it because he got a rougher time than expected by Gomez we have to get a non-threat opponent? It's wasting the time Khan has left at 135.

Just ffs Frank pay the WBO to strip Campbell and be done with it.

[funso banjo baby]

i notice unbeaten john fewkes was lined up to fight another unbeaten brit but that listing as been taken off

could fewkes be lined up for Khan?

no ko's but is he good...hes no. 4 or 5

[Dioufy]

I can't understand the dealing of Khan. I was under the impression that he starts off by fighting featherweights and slowly move up until he's confident enough to deal with a natural/or big lighweight. It's all going to spell disaster with Khan in the long run because once he's up against a reasonably sized fighter who he can't push back then he's in for a shock and probably a KO defeat. He needs to be weened onto bigger fighters and sooner rather than later - he must be outweighing his opponents by at least 12lb every fight night. Time to fight bigger men I feel, otherwise he's going to get falso confidence when fighting someone natural at the weight.

[Autobarn]

i notice unbeaten john fewkes was lined up to fight another unbeaten brit but that listing as been taken off

could fewkes be lined up for Khan?

no ko's but is he good...hes no. 4 or 5

Interesting. Has Fewkes been put forward to fight Khan, OR has Gethin been put forward to fight Murray?

[EddieShredder]

i notice unbeaten john fewkes was lined up to fight another unbeaten brit but that listing as been taken off

could fewkes be lined up for Khan?

no ko's but is he good...hes no. 4 or 5

Interesting. Has Fewkes been put forward to fight Khan, OR has Gethin been put forward to fight Murray?

A little 4 man tournament for the brit and commonwealth titles would be excellent here...... never gonna happen though

[mrbassie]

If it is Aldo Rios than its hardly an inspiring choice but neither can you complain much as at least he'll be a genuine world rated lightweight coming to win

won't be him then?

[Autobarn]

Didn't Fewkes spar Khan, when Khan was preparing for Gomez? How did Fewkey get on?

Fewkes is a quality boxer and a worthy opponent for Khan. They could hype it with the Craig Watson angle as well. Fewkes would fit the bil maybe, in that he has no punch.

[emile]

This fight is billed for the Commonwealth title, so it can't be Aldo Rios right?

I'll change my guess to Abdullai Amidu. Edner Cherry or Paulus Moses would be nice to see.

[DavidPayne]

At the current rate Justin Juuko wouldn't surprise me.

[Coco]

At the current rate Justin Juuko wouldn't surprise me.

On a 4 fight winning steak, career super-feather, ex commonwealth champ and world title challenger, with Cotto, Mayweather and Corrales on his record
Sounds like ideal SN opponent material