Don't know why Sky don't use undercard fights to make up a show in midweek, especially when this weeks "highlights" between 9-11 are:-
PGA Tour Classic (Repeat from 1998)
Bass Fishing !!!
Cycling Tour Down Under
Womens Squash
Netball Superleague
Come on it can't just be me that doesn't watch any of this crap....???
maninthemiddle wrote:Don't know why Sky don't use undercard fights to make up a show in midweek, especially when this weeks "highlights" between 9-11 are:-
PGA Tour Classic (Repeat from 1998)
Bass Fishing !!!
Cycling Tour Down Under
Womens Squash
Netball Superleague
Come on it can't just be me that doesn't watch any of this crap....???
George Michael Carmen turns pro on Wembley card. You may have heard careless whispers about this one so we've spoke to the boxer and his excited father.
Is he another gypsy who's had another 8000 cobbles fights before he was 12? I daren't look. 8)
George Michael Carmen turns pro on Wembley card. You may have heard careless whispers about this one so we've spoke to the boxer and his excited father.
Is he another gypsy who's had another 8000 cobbles fights before he was 12? I daren't look. 8)
Don't be daft, they don't turn over until they've registered 10000 cobble contests
both of ye dont know wat ye r talking about DICK HEADS
John Murray's career reached a pinnacle last October when he hammered long-time rival Jon Thaxton into a fourth round stoppage defeat yet post-fight talk of contests against the likes of Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis turned out to be just that, with Murray currently sitting on the shelf and unsure as to who, or when, he next fights.
There is a sense of Déjà vu about all of this. This time last year Murray, 28-0 (16), confessed to BS.com that he had been toying with the thought of retirement, figuring that he should go and get a trade rather than wait in vain for his boxing career to really take off.
I recently caught up with Murray, who has been in the gym since the Thaxton fight and is currently sparring with Anthony Crolla ahead of Crolla's showdown with TBA at the weekend. When asked about the date, location and opponent for his next fight, Murray shrugged, “I dunno, what can you tell me?” answered the 25-year-old Mancunian before admitting that the details were still being worked on.
Given that Murray is the mandatory challenger for the EBU title held by Anthony Mezaache, that Mezaache, we presume, signed over options to Mick Hennessy when defeating Jon Thaxton last year, and that Anthony has fought here in the UK before, that aforementioned win over 'Jono', then we could reasonably assume that Mezaache versus Murray should be an easy fight for Hennessy to make, certainly as easy as it would have been to make Thaxton-Murray when both held titles, European and British respectively, and were on a good run of form.
Mick delayed Thaxton-Murray in order to build a British super-fight only for Jon to lose his EBU belt in that voluntary defence against Mezaache, bang went the dual title showdown. Jon then took a warm-up fight against Tom Glover; Jon was fighting above his optimum weight in that one and taking on a confident fighter, we all know what happened next: Jon lost the warm up, bang went the anticipation for a Murray-Thaxton fight.
The presumption is that Hennessey is working on a TV deal in order to make Murray’s next fight; however, Lenny Daws, a Hennessey fighter, featured on a Matchroom bill the other night so surely Mezaache-Murray, which was rumoured to be signed, sealed and delivered, could have found its way onto a bill by now?
Perhaps the problem lies with Mezaache. Anthony is rated at #2 by the WBC; Murray is number 8; Edwin Valero, the current champion, could soon vacate leaving #1 contender Anthony Petersen to fight Mezaache for a crack at the belt, presuming that the WBC also try to accommodate former interim holder Antonio Demarco; Mezaache, sensing that he could soon be pushed into a title fight position, is probably sitting on his ranking. Sensible move, but where does it leave Murray?
With no word from Murray's camp over the title fight situation the British boxing public have been left to ask the question of where Murray goes next. Talk of Kevin Mitchell versus Murray only serves to highlight John's frustrating plight.
Consider, Murray is the current British champion and has been at lightweight for the bulk of his career, his last four fights have seen him develop stylistically but, as shown above, the Thaxton fight was torpedoed by hesitancy. What was once the most eagerly anticipated, and easy to make, contest in British boxing became an, ‘Oh, well Thaxton was finished’ win on the resume of Murray, not to mention the fact that the European belt had been allowed to slip out of sight.
Conversely, Kevin Mitchell spent the bulk of his career at super-featherweight yet since moving to lightweight he is 2-0 (1) with a points win over Breidis Prescott who, according to our sources, was mooted as an opponent for Murray a while back only for John to agree to the fight and then hear nothing further about it. Mitchell's win over Prescott, though Breidis was coming off a loss, was an exclamation victory the like of which Murray craves, that it came with a WBO Inter-Continental title and a promise of a world title fight for the winner only served to rub salt into Murray's wounds. Mitchell then took on Ignacio Mendoza, defeated by Murray in 2005, and is now expected to fight Katsidis, who was talked about as an opponent for Murray.
Murray, the long-time #1 British lightweight, must be quaking in frustration and shaking his head in disbelief. It has taken Mitchell two fights to travel further than John has managed in his entire lightweight career and talk has now moved on from Murray-Thaxton-Khan to, at best, Mitchell possibly winning the WBO title and defending against Murray or, more likely, Kevin setting his sights on a light-welterweight campaign and a showdown with Khan. Leaving Murray with, well nothing, and possibly nought down the line should Mitchell became yet another name that John should have fought but didn’t.
Still, Mick Hennessey is a dab hand when it comes to moving his men through the traditional route and onto the world title; the only problem is the pace at which he moves these guys. Carl Froch came to his world title at just the right time yet Junior Witter, a WBC title winner under Mick, was well past his best when he finally became a world title holder.
Murray, a pressure fighter, runs the risk of burnout due to his all or nothing fighting style so will he relish the idea of going for his world title in or around his thirties? Not likely. Nor will he be pleased about the fact that Mitchell has stolen a huge march on him with only a fraction of the 135lb fights. Murray, a dominant lightweight at the British title level, is lagging behind a former super-featherweight, Mitchell, who went life-and-death with the domestic level Carl Johanneson in his sole British title fight.
Crazy world, topsy-turvy sport and had the Prescott fight been delivered to Murray then we may well be talking about Murray as the man who had slain the reputation of the fearsome Columbian. However, that fight wasn't delivered, Murray is kicking his heels in the gym, and we are left to speculate online about the possible outcome of a Murray-Mitchell fight, all the while knowing that this is yet another domestic bout that will never come off.
Far too many big British fights have been ruined on the backburner; we have a fighter, in Murray, who could go off the boil unless he is given a fight, a meaningful one, ASAP. Murray is a full-time fighter these days yet in in-ring terms he is barely on a part-time rota.
I'm a huge Murray fan and this is frustrating me so God knows how he feels. It does seem daft that Mitchell has leapfrogged him. People slag off Frank but he's done a good job. Like it says in the article there, it is good the way he takes his fighters the traditional route but what's with the holding back his fighters? Murray has been fighting twice a year for the last few years and that isn't good enough!
When you look at the stable of fighters he has it's right up there with, perhaps even better than, any other British promoter. He could be putting on monthly shows with his lot!
If Froch is on Showtime again then it really doesn't seem like Mick has any immediate plans for the likes of Murray and Barker.
To be honest i'm quite surprised Murray hasn't already left to join the Hatton's. Hennessey has made a fair old mess of handling him so far.
Lenny wrote:If Froch is on Showtime again then it really doesn't seem like Mick has any immediate plans for the likes of Murray and Barker.
To be honest i'm quite surprised Murray hasn't already left to join the Hatton's. Hennessey has made a fair old mess of handling him so far.
I think,first of a two-parter and, the first of Guzman's UK interviews, certainly the most in-depth. Campbell,Weight and superfights to follow in Pt II
Haye has dismissed the notion, and showed plenty of flaws last Saturday, but could he become as good as Big Lennie? Decent win over Ruiz but could and should have closed the show earlier in my opinion -- thoughts?
Ruiz wouldnt have lasted a round with Lewis,Tyson or a dozen other good heavies in his prime......
Thanks for the link as thought it was a really good article - balanced, detailed and well summarised in terms of establishing a bit of perspective.
Say what you want about Maloney but he clearly cares about the fighters under his tenure and gets 'hands-on' when problems arise.
Whilst there is proof there was a request for a change in rounds - Maloney or someone in his office would have discussed firstly with the BBBofC at the weigh in, the fights what weights the fights were at, the rounds and the duration of the rounds - how come it wasnt noticed at this stage??
Then a discussion would have taken place with Maloney or his head of boxing James Russell and Sky concerning the running order, the fights, weights, rounds and duration of the rounds - also this is the conversation where the floaters would have been decided and in addition, the whip would have also been informed of all the information as well - what I cant get my head around is how someone did not twig to the difference in the rounds for Jaffa's fight.
Banbula was clearly going to be a difficult fight virtually everyone stated he was a decent test to say the very least. Banbula should be given an immense amount of credit for the way he fought.
Where it is controversial in my view is the way the corner handled Jaffa - too soft in my view. Now lets not blame the corner entirely as I suspect this is part of the set up and its probably the way Jaffa/Rimmer conduct themselves - problem is when the going gets tough there is no room for niceties!!!
Th most controversial part for me is - regardless of the injury of Jaffa prior to the fight - he simply wasnt getting right what he normally does - the basics!!! - and that leads me to think is there something else amiss with regards Jaffa's diet or is there an underlying condition which is making him look so lethargic??
With regards to Jaffa's fans saying those that criticise know f*ck all about boxing - UMmmmmm - you only have to go on Twitter and in addition facebook to see some comments complaining about the judges!!! - no you stupid ****s the ref scored the fight and I think he got it about right. Some of the comments there are foolhardy to say the least.
I think Phil Jeffries has been quite humble in his comments and Mr Maloney as always treats the boxing fans with respect - I honestly hope Jaffa comes back from this - he should go straight into a rematch when he is ready to comeback - but I think there has to be some fundamental changes in the teams thinking.
I was slagged for stating it many many months ago - people should do what they are there to do - in my opinion the only time the fighter is in charge is when the bell goes, he then immediately loses that responsibility when the bell goes for the end of the round and then its the turn of the trainer to motivate the fighter and have the balls to give a b*llocking if necessary.
I will state it again Tony Jeffries is a novice professional who could do very well for himself, calling the shots if that is the case is unhealthy and plain wrong in my view so early on in a career - and look what happens to fighters even when they get to world championship level who think they are beyond a good b*llocking, or those that think they do not need the trainer or promoter telling what is what.
I sincerely wish Jaffa all the best - I think he will get it right and I think he will do very well for himself maybe not as well as some think - but I think he will do Sunderland and his family proud.
