Brandon Rios v John Murray

[loaded_gloves]

A lot of nationalistic delusion on this thread. Rios was unmarked and Murray looked horrific, like an extra out of Dawn of the Dead. He took a frightful beating, way too many punches to the head, and I think he should hang them up because that man does not need to take any more hits, EVER.

[curtis wood]

feel sorry for murrey he just didnt have rios's fire power but who does at lightweight? i thought murrey boxed very well and hung in there when it was getting very tough, one things for certain there is no quit in the man, he did himself proud last night he just came up against a very good fighter and was second best in most departments but he can walk away with a lot of credit, he defo needs a long rest now though, hes had a couple of really hard nights in a row, but theres still some great matches out there for him, id like to see the mitchell rematch thats not a fight he couldnt win

[whiskey]

I think Murray can be proud he went out on his shield. It was a world title, so withdrawing earlier was never gonna happen.

[earsjohn]

A lot of nationalistic delusion on this thread. Rios was unmarked and Murray looked horrific, like an extra out of Dawn of the Dead. He took a frightful beating, way too many punches to the head, and I think he should hang them up because that man does not need to take any more hits, EVER.

Hang them up? He's lost twice to two very decent opponents and he caused them both trouble before fading. He's hardly shot! he needs to regroup and make some changes to tighten his defence, but he certainly has the quality to rule at domestic and European level.

[TheCobra]

Murray came up short in the power department. Murray's style was always gona be his own undoing in the long run, he got quite far with it but at world level you need power if you are gona pull off that style and Murray never had real KO power.

I've only seen rounds 1-5 on Youtube and had it 3-2 Murray same as everyone else, he really looked to be in the fight at that stage. I've also seen the last 30 seconds and the TKO and Murray again looks a bloody, bruised and swollen mess. His style just aint working for him at the top level, you cannot have a career of neglecting what the other guy is throwing. You can't really out-Mexican Rios, I reckon a better boxer-fighter will give him problems though.

I worry for Murray's long term health now, definitely needs to drop back down to domestic/euro level and rebuild I wouldn't like to see him offered up to someone else at world level again for a while.

[loaded_gloves]

Hang them up? He's lost twice to two very decent opponents and he caused them both trouble before fading. He's hardly shot! he needs to regroup and make some changes to tighten his defence, but he certainly has the quality to rule at domestic and European level.

I think his brain must be crying 'no more'.

[hitman_hatton1]

hope he got well paid for that.

his face afterwards was a mess.

shitloads of heart though murray.

[Terrrrry]

If Murray had the power, Rios was there for the taking. Rios will not fight again at lightweight, he's dead at 135.

Kevin Mitchell could well have had Rios out of there last night.

A big opportunity missed for Britain to have another titlist at world level.

Brave show by Murray, though.

[NazNaci1]

I saw his fight against Miguel Angel Munguia, in Las Vegas, I genuinely thought he would struggle with world class operators. He is a good domestic and Euro fighter and might 'win' a world title, of some description but has to be careful as to who they go for.

He takes a lot of punches and doesn't really have the speed, head movement or power to trouble the top guys. Plenty of bottle, though and that can take you a fair way.

Good luck to him, I wish him all the best.

[Matt W]

Murray is as tough and game as they come but he takes a lot of punches, I don't like to see fighters take the kind of stick Murray did last night. It was always going to be a problem for him when he stepped up to world class, you just can't afford to neglect defence at that level. Gallagher should have pulled him out earlier for me.

[charlieb]

Problem for me is that he doesn't take the punches, his inability to weather world class punishment has seen his body fail him twice now.

I can't remember the last time I saw a fighter's face looking so damaged, probably Cotto/Marg I. His whole face was purple and he seemed to be bleeding from every orifice. It was a good fight to a point, but it became very hard to watch towards the end, pulling him out a round or two earlier would've been the kindest option.

I'm not entirely sold on Rios either, I think he'd be in a world of trouble should they make the Maidana fight.

[Datsue]

Problem for me is that he doesn't take the punches, his inability to weather world class punishment has seen his body fail him twice now.

Yep. He gets hit so flush; the attitude to defence is to get the earmuffs on & then close your eyes & hope, which is why he takes such frightful beatings. I think his punch resistance has been gradually eroded on the way up fighting like that, so that now he's fighting a proper level it's already gone.

I'm not entirely sold on Rios either, I think he'd be in a world of trouble should they make the Maidana fight.

I said, when everyone was raving about him after he beat Miguel Acosta, that JMM would be able to stand blokes like Rios on his head until Marquez is about fifty years old. Nothing I have seen since has changed that view. Rios vs Maidana would be ugly & career-shortening & unless Rios has some heretofore unseen dimension that I've never noticed I too think he'd get out-caveman'd by the Argie, who I think is much much harder.

[Superheavy]

hope he got well paid for that.

I heard he got USD50K, plus USD20K for Rios failing to make weight. This is not the sort of money you could retire on - it's barely a years pay, when you consider overheads. I think he should continue to fight at Euro level (he was doing fine before he stepped up) and get some money put away.

[Autobarn]

all the recent british challegers have conducted themselves superbly. murray surely had the hardest fight. give him a bit of a break. he gave rios a memorable fight. we didn't expect him to stick and move, did we?

[Datsue]

all the recent british challegers have conducted themselves superbly. murray surely had the hardest fight. give him a bit of a break. he gave rios a memorable fight. we didn't expect him to stick and move, did we?

Cough...Barker...cough.

[Counter-puncher]

all the recent british challegers have conducted themselves superbly. murray surely had the hardest fight. give him a bit of a break. he gave rios a memorable fight. we didn't expect him to stick and move, did we?

he beat Antillon's effort into a cocked hat, for sure.

[hitman_hatton1]

picture of his face the morning after.

[exittored]

picture of his face the morning after.

Dayum gotta give Murray credit for enduring that but his corner should have pulled him out, not the ref.

Margarito looks healthy in comparison.

[Final round]

John's face is some state..feck me he needs to find an easier living. He's not got the defence or power to compete at the top. He's sure got the bravery though.

[Counter-puncher]

I saw his fight against Miguel Angel Munguia, in Las Vegas, I genuinely thought he would struggle with world class operators. .

yup, alarm bells were ringing. or 'allarrum bails' as Jim Watt would call them

[Autobarn]

it is a shame that rios was over the weight. the extra weight does make a power difference - just look at big fight, showtime-televised rematches between ricardo lopez and rosendo alvarez, johnny tapia and paulie ayala, jose luis castillo and diego corrales. it surely made a difference in the 2nd half of that give and take battle between rios and murray, and probably worsened the punishment that murray took.

murray did well, didn't get blown out, did better than antillon and peterson, and when he's recovered he deserves a shot at ricky burns in what could be a great british battle. also, if he can bounce back well, this surely puts him in good stead for the WBA title, vacated by rios given that the american couldn't (or wouldn't) make the weight.

[Autobarn]

all the recent british challegers have conducted themselves superbly. murray surely had the hardest fight. give him a bit of a break. he gave rios a memorable fight. we didn't expect him to stick and move, did we?

Cough...Barker...cough.

you caught one of them winter colds?

ok good point, martinez is borderline great and one of my absolute faves. but you'd have to say murray went out with more of a bang, in a more trying fight (physically). barker seemed exhausted from the strain of boxing at that level and seemed to suddenly flop at the end.

[Trojans44]

Murray needs burns like a hole in the head. The only possible outcome is another sustained, horrific beating. No way could Murray cope with his speed, variety and movement.

Murrays corner were appalling sending him out after the eighth. Retirement is a bit premature but he should be thinking about choosing his fights carefully. Anyone with lateral movement has a great chance of stopping him.

[TheCobra]

picture of his face the morning after.

That is NASTY. There surely must come a point in anyone's boxing/fighting career where they have to ask themselves whether it's all worthwhile, i'd be asking myself,
'is it worth risking my long term health taking total beatings for £50k'
or whatever he got. That picture has got 'long term damage' written all over it.

Murray is game as they come, but just out of his depth beyond British/Euro level.

[ScottDetonator]

Let's get Murray up against Katsidis. Worst face wins.