Murray ready to shine against Bethea

Wellington · Post by **Wellington** » 03 May 2007, 09:22

Murray ready to shine against Bethea

Hennessy Sports lightweight John Murray is looking forward to putting on a show against Lorenzo Bethea on the undercard of the highly anticipated clash between Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The 22-year-old from Manchester will box over eight rounds against the American, who had been due to meet the highly rated Philadelphian prospect Rock Allen. The match was a natural when Allen was forced to withdraw from the event.

Murray’s Hennessy Sports teammate John O’Donnell, the other half of Britain’s ‘Golden Pair,’ also features on arguably the biggest event in boxing history. The former Junior Olympic Gold Medallist and current English welterweight champion boxes tough Mexican Christian Solano over ten.

Manchester’s Murray has boxed on the other side of the pond before. He left the crowd cheering his name when he dominated Johnny Walker in Florida in 2005 and stood out again when he stopped Tyrone Wiggins in Canada last year.

In 2005 he became the first ever British fighter to win a WBC Youth Title and was named as the Boxing Writers’ Club Young Boxer of the Year 2006. He sees Saturday as another opportunity to impress.

“I’m loving being part of such a big event,” said Murray, who will be co-promoted by de la Hoya whenever he boxes in America. “I thrive off the big occasion. Of course there will be some nerves, but that will just make me sharper on the night.

“Bethea’s going to be looking forward to it as well. Boxing on a show like this will mean as much to him as it does to me.

“He was boxing anyway so he is going to be in shape. He has known since the weekend that he is fighting me, so it’s not like he’s coming in cold. He’s going to be up for it.

“But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I want to put on a show. All the media’s attention is going to be on the event and it’s a chance for me to make a statement. I want him coming to fight.”

Murray’s preparation has ensured he will be prime condition for the encounter in the Mecca of boxing.

“I couldn’t have had a better build up,” he said. “I’ve been working in the gym with John O’Donnell and earlier this week I sparred Shane Mosley at Oscar de la Hoya’s gym. It doesn’t come much better than that does it?

“I’m on a high right now; I’m loving every minute of the experience. I’ve fought over here before and I have slotted back into the old routine easily.

“We travelled last week, so I have had plenty of time to adjust. The time difference doesn’t cause me any problems anyway.

“Thanks to Golden Boy Promotions we have had access to the best facilities and my training has been bang on. I’m in great shape. I just can’t wait to get in there now.”

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 03 May 2007, 09:41

This guy seems like a bit of a bum, hopefully john knocks him out and looks good doing so..

But if Amir or Kevin Mitchell had done this then there would be war

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 03 May 2007, 10:38

we know what he looks like, is there anyt chance of having the article without the massive picture?

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 03 May 2007, 10:51

This site had Bethea down as fighting Rock Allen and he's a career light-welter. But i'm still disappointed they couldn't get someone who has been in with US prospects to provide a comparison like they've done with O'Donnell.

Still it's being part of the bill and looking good that's the main thing I suppose.

sweetscience · Post by **sweetscience** » 03 May 2007, 12:49

thepocketrocket wrote: But if Amir or Kevin Mitchell had done this then there would be war

tend to agree

if murray actually does want to fight khan he needs to step up his oppenant caliber

this guy and billy Smith x 2 is hardly good preparation

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 03 May 2007, 18:15

Yeah, he started off very well, good opponent, but it seems to have gone backwards!!

Good luck to him though

Box Office · Post by **Box Office** » 03 May 2007, 18:31

There's a big difference, After Murray wins a fight he does not talk shite
about other fighters. Kahn talks so much , he really is his own worst enemy.

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 03 May 2007, 18:36

Oh, agreed Box Office, Khans turning into a fake Naz saying hes gonna do this and do that! I like Murray, thats why I want to see him moving up in class reaching his potential

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 03 May 2007, 18:59

Box Office wrote:There's a big difference, After Murray wins a fight he does not talk shite
about other fighters. Kahn talks so much , he really is his own worst enemy.

So saying something like my powas gettin betta and I wanted to do the rounds but If the Knockout comes, It's comes, after the fight, It's considered shite?

Khan's stepping up faster though and even If he loses to Willie, It's more than Murray's done.

Box Office · Post by **Box Office** » 03 May 2007, 19:29

Oh so true that Steffy Bull was a real step up for Kahn.
Bull had to be the worst opponent I have ever seen on HBO, talk about no heart.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 03 May 2007, 19:36

Box Office wrote:Oh so true that Steffy Bull was a real step up for Kahn.
Bull had to be the worst opponent I have ever seen on HBO, talk about no heart.

You watched Bull on HBO? Don't you have ITV?

An area title which Bull won Is on the level that Nacho Mendoza has won anyway.

I said Limond was the step up for Khan. Murray's still fighting the same opp Khan fought even after 20 fights while Khan Is stepping up In his 13th.

Bull's better than Lorenzo Bethea anyway.

Box Office · Post by **Box Office** » 03 May 2007, 20:10

My point is that it is prestigious to be a featured fighter on HBO
I would have thought F.W. would have put him in a proper match in his American debut

Bull's better than Bethea?, I could not tell you never seen Bethea
But if he throws 1 punch he's better than Bull

As far as Limond better than Mendoza, Limond can't punch
He has not had a KO in years , therefore he's no danger to Kahn at all
Limond is a easy choice for a matchmaker
Mendoza has KO'ed 3 out of his last 4 since Murray, that kid can crack
Murray in my opinion has the edge as far as who has faced the better level of competition.
Don't get me wrong I do like Kahn
But I feel he's style is not yet suited to the professional game,
That can be a hard transition
But good luck to both fighters
I would love to see them both do well and face each other at some point

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 03 May 2007, 20:32

i thought murray was a tad lucky against mendoza, the ref stopped the fight and murray won but mendoza was doing well and was still throwing some very heavy artillery.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 03 May 2007, 21:06

Box Office wrote:My point is that it is prestigious to be a featured fighter on HBO
I would have thought F.W. would have put him in a proper match in his American debut

Bull's better than Bethea?, I could not tell you never seen Bethea
But if he throws 1 punch he's better than Bull

As far as Limond better than Mendoza, Limond can't punch
He has not had a KO in years , therefore he's no danger to Kahn at all
Limond is a easy choice for a matchmaker
Mendoza has KO'ed 3 out of his last 4 since Murray, that kid can crack
Murray in my opinion has the edge as far as who has faced the better level of competition.
Don't get me wrong I do like Kahn
But I feel he's style is not yet suited to the professional game,
That can be a hard transition
But good luck to both fighters
I would love to see them both do well and face each other at some point

Mendoza Is and was a Super Featherweight like Limond and Khan's opposition though. Limond's grown Into a Lightweight now though.

Limond has done more than Mendoza though by winning the Commonwealth while Nacho has had some IBF bauble.

I remember Murray messing up the Burns fight too, If he couldn't make Super Feather then why did he say he could rather than having a fight made then pull out? That wasn't fair on Burns.

To me punchers are irrelevant as long as Khan fights good opponents.

Boxers will teach Khan more than a puncher will. Punchers will only test the chin and might be lucky to land one punch, while boxers will teach Khan to work on defence more so he doesn't get hit too much by a multiple of punches. Plus boxers can teach him to be multi dimensional and give him more than one game plan.

Depends on the puncher though, some can box. But a puncher who Is limited will only test a chin and they might not barely land enough to.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 04 May 2007, 03:47

Rubbish, how will someone with no power teach Khan to improve his defence? He needs to be worried about getting hit flush, not knowing he can rush in a throw his fast combos without fear of getting countered with a hard shot. Khan is looking like he's going to be a great fighter but want people want are a variety of fighters to help mold him and at the moment, we're seeing him against smaller, weaker fighters who lack a dig that he overwhelms the majority of times.

Yeah Murray has fought Billy Smith twice, but I would have no problem if Khan had fought him up til now. And Limmond beat the mighty Kpakpo Allotey for the vacant commonwealth title lets not get too excited over that.

sweetscience · Post by **sweetscience** » 04 May 2007, 03:56

if khan got matched with Billy Smith there would be a public outcry

and then when he ko'd him, they wouldnt dream about putting khan in with him again

it is fact that Khan has been matched harder than Murray, and it is fact that Khan has stepped up and Murray hasnt

dont get me wrong i like murray, local lad, and one of my fav amatuers on the circuit a few years back, but lets be realistic

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 04 May 2007, 04:08

Now he would yes, but I think Smith would have seen a damn sight better than the majority of Khan's opponents up til now, say during his first 10. A bigger man who, for all his failings, comes to fight, not cover up until the ref jumps in (Steffy Bull amongst others). Of course the ITV viewing fans were never going to be impressed by his record though.

I'm also disappointed by Murray advancement since the Mendoza fight

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 04 May 2007, 06:12

Lenny wrote:Rubbish, how will someone with no power teach Khan to improve his defence? He needs to be worried about getting hit flush, not knowing he can rush in a throw his fast combos without fear of getting countered with a hard shot. Khan is looking like he's going to be a great fighter but want people want are a variety of fighters to help mold him and at the moment, we're seeing him against smaller, weaker fighters who lack a dig that he overwhelms the majority of times.

Yeah Murray has fought Billy Smith twice, but I would have no problem if Khan had fought him up til now. And Limmond beat the mighty Kpakpo Allotey for the vacant commonwealth title lets not get too excited over that.

Well a counter puncher like boxer will get more shots In than a puncher so that should teach him to Improve defence as well as punchers usually try single shots which might get through less than the counter punchers.

More punches In the long run will be more damaging than single shot punchers.

Thaxton Is mutli dimensional and can punch so thats why he would be a great learning fight for Khan In time.