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A week on Saturday, Hennessy sports will promote a fight between Britain’s best two lightweights, Jon Thaxton and John Murray - both promoted by Hennessy Sports.
In the build up, Thaxton’s dad has warned his son not to take the fight. The British bookmakers have made Thaxton the underdog for this fight, a role he says he will revel in. Thaxton is determined to prove his dad and the British public wrong by beating John Murray.
Joe Gallagher, the trainer of former British champion Murray, see’s things differently.
“There are a lot of mind games going on, Jon says he is doing it for his dad. Thaxton’s dad knows his son is a warrior and was born to fight, and we’re not falling for any of it. I disagree that John Murray is the favourite and make Thaxton the favourite for this fight.” Gallagher said
“Even Mick Hennessy said Thaxton was done on a bad decision for the European title against Mezaache, so it should be Thaxton and Murray fighting for Thaxton’s European title. A lot of people and publications, including Boxing News, are making Murray the favourite yet a lot of these people 12 months ago said that Murray was a one dimensional fighter. That all he does is come forward with no head movement and gets caught easily. If this is right then this fight should be a walk in the park for Thaxton.”
Gallagher then went on to say “Thaxton has been in with better fighters before, he gave Ricky Hatton one of his toughest fights, he fought Emanuel Augustus, Jason Rowland... all good fighters, and Thaxton should still be the European champ, except for a bad decision. Even Amir Khan wouldn’t fight Thaxton, but we are stepping up to the plate to fight our nemesis. All Thaxton is doing is trying to take the pressure off, we’re glad that Thaxton is training hard for this fight, as he stated when John lost his title by weighing over the limit that he prepares meticulously like a proper pro for every fight. Thaxton’s experience, his will to win and his punching power make him the favourite for this”
Gallagher then went on to talk about how Murrays preparation was going.
“John Murray is in great shape and has been ready for this fight for 2 years. In the lead up to the Dean Hickman fight John sparred 18 rounds with Ricky Hatton to prep himself for a fighter with Thaxtons ferociousness and punching power. We were ready for Thaxton then, John held his own with Ricky,” he continued
“Murray’s sparring has gone well, he’s in great shape and he wishes the fight was this week. I am giving John days off and telling him to rest, as he is so determined and focused on this fight. There is going to be a lot of venom, passion and determination on the night.”
“This fight has all the makings of a potential fight of the year. It’s going to be an explosive fight between two fighters who don’t know how to say quit, don’t know how to take a backward step. But Thaxton is the fighter who has been at European level, John Murray is a young kid with all to prove so Thaxton is the favourite for this fight”
To see John Murray take on Jon Thaxton on the 3rd October tickets can be bought from the Ticketline Box Office on 0844 888 4402 or via the Hennessy Sports website