John Murray

[Autobarn]

well he blocked punches nicely, and stepped away when thaxton wound up power shots. murray is a tall lightweight so it doesn't necessarily favour him to fight out of a crouch, ala michael gomez. murray's positioning was excellent, the short steps to left and right that avoided thaxton's shots and left murray in place to land his own. murray surely has the right trainer, in joe gallagher, a guy i would say is more influenced by the likes of patient, poised guys like curry and arguello, than, say, sawn off cannonballs tyson or frazier, at least with his pressure fighters.

after such a technically sound performance, i can't see why there would be any need for a different trainer.

someone like michael gomez would bob and weave, would use loads of head movement - but he'd often get nailed with flish right hands when he came up from a crouch position.

[ourkid1984]

I think Rees would be a good shout and Mezaache could also be a good choice. Juan Diaz would be good but he's lost a few now and wouldn't be great if Murray struggles against him.

He should be fighting Khan by now if it wasn't for the carnival that surrounds Khan. How can someone with a better record not be where Khan is now?

[Finn]

I think Rees would be a good shout and Mezaache could also be a good choice. Juan Diaz would be good but he's lost a few now and wouldn't be great if Murray struggles against him.

He should be fighting Khan by now if it wasn't for the carnival that surrounds Khan. How can someone with a better record not be where Khan is now?

allegedly and an olympic silver medal.

[stevieb_8006]

well he blocked punches nicely, and stepped away when thaxton wound up power shots. murray is a tall lightweight so it doesn't necessarily favour him to fight out of a crouch, ala michael gomez. murray's positioning was excellent, the short steps to left and right that avoided thaxton's shots and left murray in place to land his own. murray surely has the right trainer, in joe gallagher, a guy i would say is more influenced by the likes of patient, poised guys like curry and arguello, than, say, sawn off cannonballs tyson or frazier, at least with his pressure fighters.

after such a technically sound performance, i can't see why there would be any need for a different trainer.

someone like michael gomez would bob and weave, would use loads of head movement - but he'd often get nailed with flish right hands when he came up from a crouch position.

i get what ur saying totally, but i dont mean fighting out of a crouch. i just feel a little bit of side to side head movement would improve his already impressive game. hes always a little too bashed up after every fight. dont get me wrong, i love the fella and hes almost there, but a feel a few tweaks would help. def the jab, he leads with the right a little too often for my liking.

[gobbles]

I think Rees would be a good shout and Mezaache could also be a good choice. Juan Diaz would be good but he's lost a few now and wouldn't be great if Murray struggles against him.

He should be fighting Khan by now if it wasn't for the carnival that surrounds Khan. How can someone with a better record not be where Khan is now?

allegedly and an olympic silver medal.

And rating a faded Thaxton v a faded Barrera probably helps. Not to forget the win over Kotelnik. Plus Murray is fighting in leisure centres, Khan has spent his whole career fighting in big arenas.

[Autobarn]

I think Murray's doing very well. Reckon he's only just become the main lightweight in his stable, now that Thaxton, Meager and Stewart are all out of the way. Must have been very frustrating for him, knowing he was the best, knowing he had the better future, etc.

I wonder where Khan would be without the Olympic medal. Would there be the money for the Roaches of the world to change his style? Would there be the constant opportunities even after getting annihilated? Would ppl find him a bit boring, a bit lacking in charisma? (Obviously, he did well in the Olympics, this changed his profile, a well earned profile, so he has earned what he has - but What If it was otherwise...he'd be no more well known than Cleverly and Brook are.)

[gobbles]

I think Murray's doing very well. Reckon he's only just become the main lightweight in his stable, now that Thaxton, Meager and Stewart are all out of the way. Must have been very frustrating for him, knowing he was the best, knowing he had the better future, etc.

I wonder where Khan would be without the Olympic medal. Would there be the money for the Roaches of the world to change his style? Would there be the constant opportunities even after getting annihilated? Would ppl find him a bit boring, a bit lacking in charisma? (Obviously, he did well in the Olympics, this changed his profile, a well earned profile, so he has earned what he has - but What If it was otherwise...he'd be no more well known than Cleverly and Brook are.)

If it wasn't for his Olympic silver medal in Athens, he probably would have just turned pro with an Olympic gold medal from Beijing. He obviously wouldn't have gone pro when he did.

[Autobarn]

who knows, he might have wanted the money

defintely, khan is seemingly made to do well in ama boxing due to build and natural speed, so i get your point that he could have distinguished himself in the last olympics and got a nice pro contract...but without an amateur medal, do you reckon he'd be headlining big shows?

[Counter-puncher]

well he blocked punches nicely, and stepped away when thaxton wound up power shots. murray is a tall lightweight so it doesn't necessarily favour him to fight out of a crouch, ala michael gomez. murray's positioning was excellent, the short steps to left and right that avoided thaxton's shots and left murray in place to land his own. murray surely has the right trainer, in joe gallagher, a guy i would say is more influenced by the likes of patient, poised guys like curry and arguello, than, say, sawn off cannonballs tyson or frazier, at least with his pressure fighters.

after such a technically sound performance, i can't see why there would be any need for a different trainer.

someone like michael gomez would bob and weave, would use loads of head movement - but he'd often get nailed with flish right hands when he came up from a crouch position.

x2

excellent posts barn and terry

[Wales]

i wish he'd use the jab and move the head more. i wish billy graham was his coach.

Why, he blocks, parries and does well for a guy who is constantly in close. Graham loves watching John, he thinks he is the toughest fighter about but also feels that a lot of this is down to Joe Gallagher's work with John.

John looked the best I've seen him last night, including the many times I've watched him spar. He's a bona fide 110% fighter, this gives him a great chance in any fight he goes into. Rounds three and four were two of his best as a pro. He showed patience, an underrated defence and the confidence to come into Thaxton, who can dig.

On-site I thought the stoppage was premature, from TV I thought the same and still think it was two or three shots too early. I spoke to Howard for a colour report on the fight and understand his reasoning but this gives Jon the chance/excuse to carry on, when he should be thinking of retiring. The first shot was excellent, pushing him back, only for Jon to duck away from the full impact of the next three shots, if he'd have carried on there was no chance that he'd have got a big shot off, his balance was not great and he was square on, so he'd have stepped off to the left or right or tried for a shot and got caught cleanly.

Murray would have landed a few more hooks and right hands, maybe floored Jono and produced the ending the fight, and his performance, deserved. No arguments from me, though, as Howard is a top-class ref and he is there for his ability to make these calls. Refs try to stop the fight before it goes that one punch too far and that was Howard's reasoning. I won't argue with him, despite my own views on the ending. Foster's one of the best refs I've seen live, along with Steve Gray.

What do you think of John's power terry, good enough for world level? As you know Im a big fan, but im starting to winder if his power will carry upwards, his punches may have been deceptively hard on saturday, but i didnt really think they looked like big shots, wouldnt fancy one myself like, but all the same.

[Autobarn]

Murray's calling out Katsidis. I wonder how that fight would go, and what the chances of it happening are. Intriguing.

[Wales]

not sure about the chances of it happening but it'd be a right tear up... I f earl can shake kastidis Im sure Murray can, but then Kastidis is one hard m-fuck3r. At present I 've seen more of kastidis at a higher level and believe he'd beat John...

[JamesH]

i wish he'd use the jab and move the head more. i wish billy graham was his coach.

Why, he blocks, parries and does well for a guy who is constantly in close. Graham loves watching John, he thinks he is the toughest fighter about but also feels that a lot of this is down to Joe Gallagher's work with John.

John looked the best I've seen him last night, including the many times I've watched him spar. He's a bona fide 110% fighter, this gives him a great chance in any fight he goes into. Rounds three and four were two of his best as a pro. He showed patience, an underrated defence and the confidence to come into Thaxton, who can dig.

On-site I thought the stoppage was premature, from TV I thought the same and still think it was two or three shots too early. I spoke to Howard for a colour report on the fight and understand his reasoning but this gives Jon the chance/excuse to carry on, when he should be thinking of retiring. The first shot was excellent, pushing him back, only for Jon to duck away from the full impact of the next three shots, if he'd have carried on there was no chance that he'd have got a big shot off, his balance was not great and he was square on, so he'd have stepped off to the left or right or tried for a shot and got caught cleanly.

Murray would have landed a few more hooks and right hands, maybe floored Jono and produced the ending the fight, and his performance, deserved. No arguments from me, though, as Howard is a top-class ref and he is there for his ability to make these calls. Refs try to stop the fight before it goes that one punch too far and that was Howard's reasoning. I won't argue with him, despite my own views on the ending. Foster's one of the best refs I've seen live, along with Steve Gray.

I remember reading that Graham liked Murray but if I remember rightly he tipped Khan to beat him.... is that right? and if so, is that still the case? Murray seemed very disciplined on Friday, who do we think would win that one? I'd always had Khans handspeed as the clincher but Murray is proving he can execute a game plan so if he could get that right against Khan, I just wonder.... hmm.

As for Murray-Katsidis.... how brutal would that be!!

[jamesmcdonnell]

Murray is looking better and better, he hardly took a flush shot from Thaxton, and those he did take, he took very well indeed.

I love Murray's style of fighting, relentless, economical, and brutal in the extreme, now his defence has improved, he has the makings of a true world class fighter I think. I think Murray could go all the way, though of course we've yet to see him in with anything like a world class operator.

I'd pick him to dismantle Khan right now.

[stujones]

I really don't want to take anything away from Murray, who from the 2nd round was punch perfect (he's never going to be a lightening starter). Have to say though, Thaxton's accuracy has gone a while ago. He had that "one last good performance" when winning the European title, but he looked a faded force before and after that.

He didn't look good on the pads before the fight IMO.

I thought the fight was going to last longer, but I never gave Thaxton a chance.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I really don't want to take anything away from Murray, who from the 2nd round was punch perfect (he's never going to be a lightening starter). Have to say though, Thaxton's accuracy has gone a while ago. He had that "one last good performance" when winning the European title, but he looked a faded force before and after that.

He didn't look good on the pads before the fight IMO.

I thought the fight was going to last longer, but I never gave Thaxton a chance.

He did everything that could be asked of him, he absolutely tore Thaxton to bits and took very little in reply.

[THEBUTCH]

Flawless display from Murray . European shot next please, maybe a defence, then the world stage.

I felt for Thaxton, he deserved more from the referee, but nothing new here. Unless Thaxton can't motivate himself anymore, he should wait around a bit and see if Murray vacates, because he might still be able to beat most of the other lightweights, who are nowhere near Murray's class, and get the Lonsdale belt for keeps...but then it's time to hang them up.

Great to see Murray getting the recognition he deserves.

[DavidPayne]

i wish he'd use the jab and move the head more. i wish billy graham was his coach.

Why, he blocks, parries and does well for a guy who is constantly in close. Graham loves watching John, he thinks he is the toughest fighter about but also feels that a lot of this is down to Joe Gallagher's work with John.

John looked the best I've seen him last night, including the many times I've watched him spar. He's a bona fide 110% fighter, this gives him a great chance in any fight he goes into. Rounds three and four were two of his best as a pro. He showed patience, an underrated defence and the confidence to come into Thaxton, who can dig.

On-site I thought the stoppage was premature, from TV I thought the same and still think it was two or three shots too early. I spoke to Howard for a colour report on the fight and understand his reasoning but this gives Jon the chance/excuse to carry on, when he should be thinking of retiring. The first shot was excellent, pushing him back, only for Jon to duck away from the full impact of the next three shots, if he'd have carried on there was no chance that he'd have got a big shot off, his balance was not great and he was square on, so he'd have stepped off to the left or right or tried for a shot and got caught cleanly.

Murray would have landed a few more hooks and right hands, maybe floored Jono and produced the ending the fight, and his performance, deserved. No arguments from me, though, as Howard is a top-class ref and he is there for his ability to make these calls. Refs try to stop the fight before it goes that one punch too far and that was Howard's reasoning. I won't argue with him, despite my own views on the ending. Foster's one of the best refs I've seen live, along with Steve Gray.

I remember reading that Graham liked Murray but if I remember rightly he tipped Khan to beat him.... is that right? and if so, is that still the case? Murray seemed very disciplined on Friday, who do we think would win that one? I'd always had Khans handspeed as the clincher but Murray is proving he can execute a game plan so if he could get that right against Khan, I just wonder.... hmm.

As for Murray-Katsidis.... how brutal would that be!!

I saw John's fight for the WBC youth belt and he was in a real good fight with, was he a Columbian, anyway you could see back then he was tough, accurate and listened.

[Wales]

Menzes or something wasnt it, that was a helluva scrap. Was it menzes or murray that had one eff of a lump over his eye in that one?

[THEBUTCH]

I've been a fan since he beat Darius Snarksi. Few could have beaten the pole in such a quick time after just 2 fights as a pro.


Murray had the ghastly lump. Excellent opponent again after relatively few fights.

[Wales]

Cheers Shaggy. I'll come to Vegas with you when he gets a world title shot. We'll play wheel of fortune all night, and leave our morals in Manchester airport.

[Autobarn]

I got the impression he was fighting for speed on Saturday, rather than power. He was leaner than usual - though perhaps this was a reaction to the weigh in incident of the previous fight - and his shots landed swiftly and accurately. The shots that wobbled Thaxton seemed to really surprise Thaxton. Especially the big right hand at the end, when I believe Thaxton had backed in a straight line after missing a shot.

[hitman_hatton1]

i was surprised how he stood off against thaxton and waited for the openings.

we've not really seen that before in murray.

it's all pressure pressure pressure usually.

still got me doubts in terms of world level.

but he's good and i look forward to fights with the likes of romanov, katsidis, diaz etc. :)

[hitman_hatton1]

Menzes or something wasnt it, that was a helluva scrap. Was it menzes or murray that had one eff of a lump over his eye in that one?

yeah that was his toughest fight so far.

i thought he got a bit lucky that night.

he had bad eye damage and was beginning to be picked off a bit.

thank god for those international cuts rules that were in place that night.

otherwise it would have been british rules and a loss on his record.

[stujones]

I really don't want to take anything away from Murray, who from the 2nd round was punch perfect (he's never going to be a lightening starter). Have to say though, Thaxton's accuracy has gone a while ago. He had that "one last good performance" when winning the European title, but he looked a faded force before and after that.

He didn't look good on the pads before the fight IMO.

I thought the fight was going to last longer, but I never gave Thaxton a chance.

He did everything that could be asked of him, he absolutely tore Thaxton to bits and took very little in reply.

Absolutely James, not disputing. I didn't mean to take anything away from Murray's performance - but I was alarmed at Thaxton's accuracy, or lack of, even hitting the pads.

Infact, it was your post on the prizefighter the night before that got me thinking. The one in which you questioned if Danny had some neurological problems now... I was wondering the same of Thaxton watching him on the pads. His accuracy is has been alarmingly off for sometime.