John Murray-Dean Hickman

[Podmore_Birmingham]

I'd love Deano to splat Murray, and i've had a £20 bet at 16/1 at a local bookies that Deano stops him in four, but i think Murray will win - probably inside six.

Here is an interview i did with Dean earlier in the week: http://www.britishboxing.net/news_2836- ... n-run.html

Murray will have his chin seriously put to the test by Deano, who has looked strong sparring with Dean Harrison, Young Mutley, Stuart Elwell and Marcus Portman. But if Murray has done his homework, which he will have done, then he will aim for the body from the off.

Tom Podmore.

[Podmore_Birmingham]

Thought you might Tom. I would have a bet with you but the only time I gamble is when I piss in a cross wind.

May the best man win, personally I think it will be Murray.

Murray is working on defence but Dean is a dangerman. You cannot whack John's sparring though

Dean has scored two of the most devastating KO's i've seen in the flesh - Adnan Amar and Tom Hogan. Both were unconscious for quite a few minutes.

Deano has been beaten by good men (Barry Morrison, Nigel Wright and Gary Reid – who he'd previously outpointed) and, interestingly, all three of his defeats have come when he's fought on Sky Sports.

He laughed about that when i reminded him. Anyway, he looks stronger at lightweight and will carry his one-punch power down – believe me. He has, as i have mentioned, been having excellent sparring and is ready and able to take the English title.

Are you going to Nottingham, Terry?

Tom Podmore.

[THEBUTCH]

If Murray is as good many believe he is, this will be another step too far for Hickman.

The fact it's at lightweight gives Hickman an added chance, but his resistance to body shots will probably decrease even further and Murray won't have any hesitation in concentrating his attacks downstairs.

Has to be a Murray stoppage for me, but it could be another case of the fans winning if this one lives up to expectations.

[Podmore_Birmingham]

I think this is guaranteed to be fight-of-the-night, especially as Deano, hot-headed inside the ring but laid-back outside, will go toe-to-toe as soon as he ships a clean punch.

As I have previously alluded – and its no secret – Deano has been done to the body a few times, but has been doing plenty of sit-ups and medicine ball-related exercises for that eventuality.

He is ready for anything Murray will bring. Let's hope John moves his head more than he has in recent times - the last thing you want to do when Hickman is in range is to have a static head.

Tom Podmore.

[Poncey]

I've been a big fan of Murray since I saw him on the Hopkins undercard. When I saw him on the ODLH undercard he looked fantastic, and had progressed well. C'mon John!!!

[Autobarn]

I go for Murray. Watching him on Sky Sports over the last year or two he's developed some good skills bit by bit. I predict him to put ti all together in a real fight.

[sweetscience]

ive not been impressed when ive seen murray as a pro (only been a few times mind) which has disappointed me cause he was one of my fav Ams a few years back

had some mint fights in the aba's - good stoppage in preston then got ripped off by the scousers v Burke

[TerribleTerry]

Fraid to say I make Murray a solid favourite here.

If Dean can catch Murray with the type of left hook that laid Adnan Amar out, then who knows?

As it is I cant see the compact Manchester fighter letting him see that much of his chin.

Murray on points for me.

[Poncey]

I've been a big fan of Murray since I saw him on the Hopkins undercard. When I saw him on the ODLH undercard he looked fantastic, and had progressed well. C'mon John!!!

Was that filmed? You must be Gheeme then?

I heard he boxed well, stole the show in fact, what was your take? Was it hype or did he do really well?

That week it was O'Donnell in terms of press releases, 'next McGuigan' and that, then he lost and they seemed to overlook that we had another kid out there boxing.

That's me.

It was on the non-televised undercard at around 16:30 so unfortunately SKY or HBO wouldn't have filmed it for you. He came on after O'Donnell got schooled.

He fought an incredibly well paced fight, sitting behind his jab and feeling out his oppoent, then turned the screw in round 6 on Bethea and stopped him in the 7th. I thought he showed amazing maturity. He was certainly the best young fighter on the undercard, as Blly Dib should have lost his fight, Hernandez and Bautista was okay, but both were floored, and O'Donnell was destroyed. Although John was badly matched against an opponent with a 75% KO ratio (I think, had a few whisky sours by then!!)

Just a shame John isn't as active as he should be, and Khan steals a lot of the limelight IMO. After all, if he beats Khan to the Boxing Writers award there must be some truth in his talent!!

[Autobarn]

I think Murray fights better with a better opponent or a better stage. He ws very impressive on the Lacy-Reid undercard, and as you say above, he was impressive on the Mayweather-DLH undercard.

I think he make more believers out there after tonight.

[THEBUTCH]

Cracking performance by Murray in a good fight. Hickman must have trained his nuts off for this one, because no way could he have held up to Murray's onslaught for as long as did.

I think on that performance I'd tip Murray to beat Thaxton...although it would be much tougher.

[Autobarn]

Murray's subtle footwork impressed me. He does some nice sidesteps to set up his body shots. This well help him vs Thaxton, and I think he'll give Thax far more bother than Meager did.

[THEBUTCH]

Watching Murray in full flow reminded me a lot of Ricky Hatton and Hatton's style and workrate was all wrong for Thaxton.

Not sure if Murray's ready to deliver the same level of performance as Ricky did against Thaxton but i can see John dishing out a lot of leather and think he could also be too much for Thaxton to cope with.

Let's hope Hennessy can make it happen.