Murray: “I Khan rule Amir’s World”

[HS Press]

Murray: “I Khan rule Amir’s World”

John Murray says he’s ready, willing and able to step into Andreas Kotelnik’s boxing boots should the German based Ukrainian’s suffer any further injury problems ahead of his rescheduled World title clash with Amir Khan at the MEN Arena in Manchester on July 18th.

The undefeated Murray improved his perfect record to 27 and 0 last weekend with an impressive demolition of English Champion Scott Lawton and the Mancunian would be more than happy to make Bolton rival Khan victim number 28.

It was confirmed yesterday that Khan’s World title bid was being postponed for 3 weeks with the venue switched to the MEN Arena after Kotelnik withdrew from the original date at the O2 in London with a toothache.

“Boxing seems to be jinxed at the moment with fighters getting injured,” said Murray. “In the space of a couple of weeks you’ve had David Haye, Floyd Mayweather Jnr. and now Kotelnik having to postpone fights and I just want to make it clear that I’m willing to get in there with Amir if Kotelnik has any more problems.

“To be honest I know that the Manchester fans would be way more interested in seeing me and Khan getting on it than the Kotelnik fight anyway and it would pack out the MEN.

“What a night that would be. I think it would be up there with the likes of Benn and Eubank in terms of big British fights. I think our styles would really match up to make it a sensational scrap but ultimately I don’t think he’d be able to deal with my pressure, strength and power.”

Murray abandoned any post fight celebrations on Saturday after he was told that the Khan – Kotelnik fight was in doubt.

“I went home, watched the fight back and had an early night because I was told that Khan might be looking for a new opponent for the original June 27th date. My promoter Mick Hennessy told them that I’d be available for the 27th but they’ve rescheduled it now for July 18th but if Kotelnik has any more problems then I’ll be ready to step in for him.

“I’ve offered to fight Khan quite a few times over the years now but nothing’s ever come of it. He hasn’t even proved he’s the best fighter in his weight in Greater Manchester let alone Britain, Europe or the World.”

Khan recently said he rated Kotelnik as the worst World Champion in boxing and Murray believes it’s a fight that his rival can win as long as his chin holds up. “Kotelnik’s nothing special,” said the 24-year-old. “He was a decent amateur and he’s tough and strong but Junior Witter beat him a few years back in a European title defence and I’ve never been overly impressed with Kotelnik any time I’ve seen him.

“Khan’s fast and flashy but he still makes so many mistakes and his chin is obviously suspect. Breidis Prescott needed less than a minute to prove that and anyone that catches Khan square on the chin with a half decent punch will probably knock him out.”

[Pickers]

Khan't.

[Adamj1987]

murry may beat khan if he can land a heavy punch but he wont be a world champ

[Coco]

I'm sure if FW promoted he could make it for a vacant world title, and if Hennessy did it would be for the English title!

[Autobarn]

Is Khan's fight still on PPV?

I'm a big fan of Murray, but would any of us pay £15 to see two prospects in their early 20s at it?

PPV should be for champs.

Props to Murray for making himself available, though. Joe Gallagher did say he'd prefer bigger fish for Murray. Would be a great way for Murray to improve his profile. He seems a mentally tough fighter so he should cope alright on a hostile show.

[Counter-puncher]

Would be a great way for Murray to improve his profile. He seems a mentally tough fighter so he should cope alright on a hostile show.

mate i don't think it would be that hostile. he'd bring a few fans of his own, Khan isn't massively well supported, and many of those who go to see him IMO are 'casuals' who are just going to have a look at Amir Khan, i suppose some come back, some don't... anyways its certainly not like he'd be going into the Lions den MEN with 12,000 fans baying for his blood/ Khan's success

anyway so i don't reckon the atmosphere would be that intimidating for Murray, at all. a lot of the 'proper' boxing fans there to watch other fighters will be cheering for Murray- or against Khan, whichever way you want to put it.

[Autobarn]

Would be a great way for Murray to improve his profile. He seems a mentally tough fighter so he should cope alright on a hostile show.

mate i don't think it would be that hostile. he'd bring a few fans of his own, Khan isn't massively well supported, and many of those who go to see him IMO are 'casuals' who are just going to have a look at Amir Khan, i suppose some come back, some don't... anyways its certainly not like he'd be going into the Lions den MEN with 12,000 fans baying for his blood/ Khan's success

anyway so i don't reckon the atmosphere would be that intimidating for Murray, at all. a lot of the 'proper' boxing fans there to watch other fighters will be cheering for Murray- or against Khan, whichever way you want to put it.

well you never know they might give him a closet or a toilet for a changing room. and certainly the biggest ring available, to give khan more space and so it takes murray longer to close the distance.

[lefthook82]

didnt relaise Murray was as much as 27-0. thats a lot of fights for a 'prospect'

Anyways, at 140lbs he would imo have even less of a chance then he already did. Would make a good fight although its Sport Cafe for me if it does come off. Good luck trying to get £15 out of my pocket to pay for that

[neil hibbert]

id like to see the fight to be honest and what u were saying abot khans fans, i remember a lot of cheers when prescott kod him so i garee with him not having a hardcore fanbase

[lirva]

cringeworthy title, i wouldn't even bother reading the artical, just posting to say, that is a WOEFUL title to a press release.

[Autobarn]

didnt relaise Murray was as much as 27-0. thats a lot of fights for a 'prospect'

Anyways, at 140lbs he would imo have even less of a chance then he already did. Would make a good fight although its Sport Cafe for me if it does come off. Good luck trying to get £15 out of my pocket to pay for that

i'd pay the PPV but IMO both are lads who have got most of it ahead of them.

well, how good is khan going to be at 140? has amir fought any light welters? he was good as Mr Big Lightweight vs Mr Super Feather but that doesn't make a light welter.

at least murray has fought 140-pounders like the fast, defensive lee mcavoystar and the stocky, strong dean hickman stopping both.

it would basically be a fight of 2 big lightweights, up at light welter

[madmick]

murray would get beat by khan ...murray way to easy to hit.

[Eraserhead]

Who really cares?






Not me.

[Counter-puncher]

at least murray has fought 140-pounders like the fast, defensive lee mcavoystar and the stocky, strong dean hickman stopping both.

aye, dean hickman is what fans in the midlands- or at least me and Tom Podmore haha- refer to as a 'poor man's mutley'. hasn't got the greatest chin or punch resistance in general but my god he can bang. Hickman scored the heaviest scariest KO i have ever seen in the flesh, the dude was out for about 3 minutes. Murray took his shots pretty well

[Counter-puncher]

id like to see the fight to be honest and what u were saying abot khans fans, i remember a lot of cheers when prescott kod him so i garee with him not having a hardcore fanbase

yeah thats what i was thinking about mate there were loads of scousers who were celabrating Prescott's KO as if Paul Smith had just won a world title

[Autobarn]

murray would get ironed out by khan ...murray way to easy to hit.

khan way too chinny, also

[Autobarn]

I know what a useful fight for Murray would have been, for good experience to take into a Khan fight.

Nadeem Siddique. Sid had the gaudy record, is big, fast, flashy, mobile(ish) and vulnerable.

When Fewkes had to pull out of the Murray fight, Sid offered to step in. However, he was nowhere near the lightweight limit that Murray had come in for. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't he above welterweight that night?

[alexpaterson]

It would be avery good fight Khan-Murray but Khan wont take it to much risk for not a lot of money I think either Murray will be to relentless for him and KO him at around the 6th or Khan will box his ears off and win a huge UD decision hope its the 1st one think it will be the 2nd one

[Happy Slapper]

Khan by KO. Murray lying against the ropes taking shot after shot without reply - ref steps in. All over.

Khan is too quick and too talented for Murray.

[WildWaylon]

Murray is a pretty big lad and Khan is used to fighting smaller men. Khan still hasnt got his defense sorted out and I agree with John he is very stoppable. Cant see Khan agreeing to fight Murray. Think of the humiliation being beaten by a local lad.

[bigjack]

id like to see the fight to be honest and what u were saying abot khans fans, i remember a lot of cheers when prescott kod him so i garee with him not having a hardcore fanbase

I was there when Khan got ko'd and was very surprised at the amount of people cheering prescott(including me),and i think that barrera also got slightly more cheers too when he fought khan.

[overhand_right]

Whoever coined the phrase 'I Khan Rule Amirs World' should be sacked & never let near a Word document again. EVER.

[Autobarn]

Khan by KO. Murray lying against the ropes taking shot after shot without reply - ref steps in. All over.

Khan is too quick and too talented for Murray.

quick mobile guys don't always win. it's easy to say someone is too fast. is it not a bit of a reach to think that the fast guy will just land at will all night? the other guy can do things like make the ring smaller, jab his way in (murray's jab was an excellent weapon v the quick mcallister), wokr the body - slow down the quicker guy.

what if khan gets in trouble? how many ppl have any belief in khan's ability to survive? i won't until i see him do waht haye did v mormeck & frago, and ben dunne did v cordoba.

[Captain Hook]

Khan by TKO mid rounds but Murray would give him a good fight, he's solid but too open and limited.

Khan is world class......Murray is Euro at best.

[My Name Is Earl]

would be a domestic corker, but'll never happen.