Niall Hickman, Daily Express:Murray Rubbishes Hypocrite Khan

Wellington · Post by **Wellington** » 12 Apr 2007, 09:55

Murray Rubbishes Hypocrite Khan

NIALL HICKMAN, RINGSIDE, DAILY EXPRESS – 12/04/07. A furious war of words has erupted between Amir Khan and highly-rated John Murray, who insists the Olympic hero is “seriously confused”.

Khan dismissed Murray’s credentials as his next opponent, saying he had ‘played with’ the Manchester fighter when the pair sparred together as juniors. But Murray is adamant he has never faced Khan in the ring and yesterday insisted he believes he is a ‘hypocrite.’

Khan, 20, said after his 12th professional victory on Saturday that he was in a different class to Murray and also accused him trying to earn a bumper pay-day by calling him out.

“They have all been coming out of the woodwork lately, like John Murray. I sparred with him and played with him. I am in a different league to him,” said Khan.

But Murray, 22, insists he has never sparred with Bolton’s Olympic Silver Medallist and that all he was doing by offering him the chance to fight in Las Vegas on the Oscar de la Hoya – Floyd Mayweather undercard on May 5 was answering Khan’s challenge for his British rivals to face him.

“Khan’s mouth is going to get him in trouble,” said Murray. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard what he said. I have never shared a ring with him.

“He would remember if we had sparred because I would have taken him apart, but we have never sparred as amateurs or at any other time.

“He needs to get his stories straight. He says there are lots of people calling him out, bet he called out his British rivals and said they had better hurry up and fight him.

“He was full of bravado and disrespect last week, insulting far more established fighters, but where’s his bottle now?

“I took up the challenge by saying I would be willing to fight him in Las Vegas when I have my next fight. It’s on the undercard of possibly the biggest night in boxing history, but now he’s looking for the exit signs.

“And he says I am scared. How can I be? I have stepped up to his challenge. Is his head read right? I believe he is a hypocrite for saying he wants his British rivals, but the backing out. Now he has started coming up with fairytales.

“Khan saying I am looking for a pay-day is another absolute insult. I have carved out a name for myself. I won the Boxing Writers’ Young Boxer of the Year Award, just like he has and I am the WBC World Youth Champion – the first in Britain.

“I am at the start of my career. I am not someone looking for a pay-day before he hangs up his gloves. And if either of us is about money, it certainly isn’t me. I think he is the most overpaid fighter in Britain, getting massive money for easy jobs.

“He is hallucinating after 12 fights. He says I am not his level, well he is right in a way – I am on a higher level and I am ranked higher.

“He needs to compare our records. I have been matched well since day one. His opposition is way off mine. I have taken decent late-notice jobs and won and I have boxed outside of the comfort zone, outside of England. I fought in America in my 13th fight and I have offered Khan the chance to do the same, on neutral ground.”

Murray was left unimpressed by Khan’s latest win, after the Bolton boxer stopped Doncaster’s Steffy Bull in three rounds on Saturday.

He said: “Khan fights opponents who are smaller or just there to survive, or who have just come out of retirement, like Bull. Surely they are running out of easy targets?

“People have been saying, ‘Give him a good crack from me.’ But this wouldn’t be just a high-profile North-West derby; it would also generate a lot of interest.

“Are the public prepared to keep watching a so-called star of the future feast on easy pickings and then run for cover?”

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:09

Finally, the tides are turning.............

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:37

Only one way to sort this out fellas...in the ring

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 12 Apr 2007, 15:00

Anyone else get the feeling Niall Hickman will be sitting behind the corner post come the next SN show :p

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 13 Apr 2007, 06:05

Niall Hickman is pissed cos he's getting his arse sued over lies the Hatton Book. All this bile is just a personal vendetta and complete made up BS which is why decent journo's haven't touched his crap.

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 13 Apr 2007, 06:19

Twinkle Toes wrote:Anyone else get the feeling Niall Hickman will be sitting behind the corner post come the next SN show :p

be wearing a corner post even.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 13 Apr 2007, 06:43

Surely it's just responding to the "crap" that Amir was quoted with on the BBC?

PompeyScot · Post by **PompeyScot** » 13 Apr 2007, 06:51

boxingchat wrote:Niall Hickman is pissed cos he's getting his arse sued over lies the Hatton Book. All this bile is just a personal vendetta and complete made up BS which is why decent journo's haven't touched his crap.

Leaving aside Hickman's point of view, what's your own opinion on the fact that Amir publically called out any British fighter to fight him 'before their chance had one' (classy stuff from a newer pro), one of the brightest prospects in the country has answered the call but Amir seems to have backtracked on his original statement?

Secondly, going back to Hickman's column, what's the competely made up BS part of it?

I've not got a personal vendetta or anything, I'm just a huge boxing fan, but I really can't see what you're accusing Hickma of, unless you're basically calling Murray himself a liar? Has Khan sparred with Murray in the past?

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 13 Apr 2007, 07:39

My mistake, I was actually referring to all the ITV/Hatton nonsense he wrote alongside the piece yesterday. Your're right Khan did call out Murray and all the others and therefore Murray, who I think is a good fighter, has the right to respond. However, him saying the fight should happen on the undercard of Mayweather V DeLay Hoya is odd. Is he the Matchmaker or the Promoter?

Perhaps he thinks Khan is earning the same small purses he is earning. And, does he think that he will be fighting in front of any more tha 500 people in Las Vegas when his fight is on at about 4pm?

He's being used as a space filler for Sky and should get better treatment.
Big show, but he won't figure highly on it so it will be a dissappointment to him when his shots echo around the hall.

PompeyScot · Post by **PompeyScot** » 13 Apr 2007, 07:48

boxingchat wrote:My mistake, I was actually referring to all the ITV/Hatton nonsense he wrote alongside the piece yesterday. Your're right Khan did call out Murray and all the others and therefore Murray, who I think is a good fighter, has the right to respond. However, him saying the fight should happen on the undercard of Mayweather V DeLay Hoya is odd. Is he the Matchmaker or the Promoter?

Perhaps he thinks Khan is earning the same small purses he is earning. And, does he think that he will be fighting in front of any more tha 500 people in Las Vegas when his fight is on at about 4pm?

He's being used as a space filler for Sky and should get better treatment.
Big show, but he won't figure highly on it so it will be a dissappointment to him when his shots echo around the hall.

Surely though it's a chance for Khan to showcase himself on one of the biggest cards for a long time? Put Khan into the match and it takes on bigger significance, for both sides of the Atlantic, and would earn him profile in the States.

The slot is there, Khan has issued a challenge and he's got an opponent. He gets showcased in the States on a high profile card against an opponent who, on his own admission, is pretty much a class beneath him.

At the end of the day, what is there to lose if you're Amir Khan? I honestly can't see why he would turn it down, unless he's content for the moment to beat up the likes of Stefy Bull?

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 13 Apr 2007, 08:20

John Murray a "space filler". Don't agree at all. In the overall scheme of his career IMO he is a fast emerging force.

If SN object to "space filling" they should take a long hard look at a number of their shows. The same accusation could be aimed at a number of SN boxers and how their career's are being handled.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 13 Apr 2007, 08:39

boxingchat wrote: He's being used as a space filler for Sky and should get better treatment.
Big show, but he won't figure highly on it so it will be a dissappointment to him when his shots echo around the hall.

Plenty of SN prospects know what that feels like - propping up either end of a mammoth 15 fight card must be a dispiriting feeling; especially in a routine 6 rnd run out against one of 'the usual suspects'..

I have sat past midnight at many SN shows, whilst the TV crews pack up, watching a couple of lads trying to concentrate on boxing whilst surrounded by empty seats and yawning families. Hardly what they dreamed of when they turned pro..

Khan on the DLH vPBF undercard would have the attention of the American media - it wouldnt go unnoticed and would be a fantastic meeting.

It wont happen - we all know that. Warren is far too cautious to allow such a thing.

Box Office · Post by **Box Office** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:05

I really think Murray would win at this point!
Kahn did not look ready to face a pressure fighter like Murray
last time out. Murray will be seen by Millions all over the world,
there may not be a full house in the arena(that's Vegas)
But this is a big deal to be on this show
Evertime Murray fights outside of the U.K. he steals the show

I would think that it would be a very, very long time untill HBO works with FW again. HBO has been getting tons of bad reviews for the last show
Maby Kahn should take Murray up on his offer, I dont think he's going to be back on that Network anytime soon. Americans do not get why people like Kahn, they dislike anything different. He will never be a big star over there, Never!

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 13 Apr 2007, 09:46

khan may be calling out all these other people, but we all know there's no way that fights with rival promoters fighters are going to happen. The last time that Hennessy worked with SN, they weren't too happy about the outcome, and let's face it, it's rarer than rocking horse shit for prospects from rival camps to fight one another.

This is all just stuff and nonsense from both sides. It's sabre rattling of the highest order.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:00

TerribleTerry wrote:Plenty of SN prospects know what that feels like - propping up either end of a mammoth 15 fight card

That's a good point, SN seem to be offering regular quantity over quality shows of late. Just because you have 12 fights on a card doesn't mean they are any good, in fact most of them are mismatches or young prospects beating on surviving journeymen.

Box Office · Post by **Box Office** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:10

F.W. time is coming to a end , he's had his run
After Joe all he really has is Amir
So your right in saying he'll never put Kahn in with Murray
He needs to protect this kid with his life
And the stupid public will keep going to see Amir fight the bum of the month and say he's the best in Boxing.
To be the best you have to beat the best
He will not even fight the best in his own backyard,
what a puss!

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 13 Apr 2007, 10:45

Boxingchat,

I think that is a fair enough response you have made regarding John Murray. I do agree with it generally, although I'm not sure if Khan has been no more than "filler" to the main event himself over at Sports Network - okay a "filler" who fights infront of a big audience but still yet to headline a show... which I think is fine as he is a prospect (we never wanted another Audley) but not so fine when it comes to fighters calling him out in fights in which he will headline a card and a step up (legitmate step up unlike Audley in his early career).

Anyway, regardless of the promotional issues and differences between Murray and Khan... why not Khan vs Earl. For me, this is a better fight for Khan cause at least Earl is proven as a solid Domestic/European level operator - Murray isn't either yet. Earl has issued a statement wanting it, surely it is easy to make - and it will be a dandy.

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 13 Apr 2007, 12:13

Watch this space Stu!

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 13 Apr 2007, 12:19

That be a good fight, put it on Skelton bill.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 13 Apr 2007, 15:58

boxingchat wrote:Watch this space Stu!

Any idea of a rough timescale, Boxingchat.

I would like to see it before September.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 14 Apr 2007, 08:52

Khan is fast becoming a joke... if you talk the talk you have to walk the walk... calling people out and then dismissing a possibility of a fight with them when your bluff has been called is both incredibly arrogant and stupid at the same time... nice to see that Khans being guided the right way... has he been given any more fast cars lately???...

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 16 Apr 2007, 06:24

He's never been GIVEN A fast Car. He buy's his Cars I believe. What is John Murray driving these day's?

PompeyScot · Post by **PompeyScot** » 16 Apr 2007, 07:55

boxingchat wrote:He's never been GIVEN A fast Car. He buy's his Cars I believe. What is John Murray driving these day's?

Another cheap shot at Murray I see (I also see that Warren, in his NOTW column, was repeating what you said on here last week about Murray fighting in front of empty seats, strange that eh?). I don't think it does you, or the Warren camp, any favours to see remarks like that.

Money isn't everything (ask Audley Harrison). At least Murray has respect and has got himself a spot on a big card in the States (and is actually fighting in the States come to that). In a short space of time, Amir has found himself transforming from a nation's Olympic favourite to a seemingly jumped up, big headed arrogant twat who doesn't seem to have any respect for his fellow pros.

Now, again, ask Audley 'British title within five fights' Harrison where that can lead.

dr_devious · Post by **dr_devious** » 16 Apr 2007, 08:10

boxingchat wrote:He's never been GIVEN A fast Car. He buy's his Cars I believe. What is John Murray driving these day's?

BoxingChat: Do you think Khan "earns" his money by beating up guys who dont throw a punch back like Steffy Bull? Do you think that this fight served any purpose in either providing a competitive bout or in developing Khan as a fighter?
Did any of the headline shows at Cardiff i.e. Calzaghe-Manfredo, Macaranelli-Gunn, Khan-Bull provide the ticket paying public or ITV with any value for money whatsoever, or were they all gross mismatches?

emma · Post by **emma** » 16 Apr 2007, 09:56

PompeyScot wrote:
boxingchat wrote:He's never been GIVEN A fast Car. He buy's his Cars I believe. What is John Murray driving these day's?
Another cheap shot at Murray I see (I also see that Warren, in his NOTW column, was repeating what you said on here last week about Murray fighting in front of empty seats, strange that eh?). I don't think it does you, or the Warren camp, any favours to see remarks like that.

Money isn't everything (ask Audley Harrison). At least Murray has respect and has got himself a spot on a big card in the States (and is actually fighting in the States come to that). In a short space of time, Amir has found himself transforming from a nation's Olympic favourite to a seemingly jumped up, big headed arrogant twat who doesn't seem to have any respect for his fellow pros.

Now, again, ask Audley 'British title within five fights' Harrison where that can lead.

Well said