BoxRec

Murray to Khan: Challenge Accepted



Amir Khan has stated this week that he is ready for his British lightweight rivals and insisted that they need to fight him now. History making WBC World Youth Champion John Murray has accepted the challenge.

Bolton’s 2004 Olympic silver medallist has claimed ahead of only his 12th professional fight this weekend that he is ready to face the likes of British lightweight champion Jonathan Thaxton.

Murray, promoted by Mick Hennessy like Thaxton, has dismissed his claims as an insult. But the WBC Youth Champion is willing to give Khan the opportunity to back up his boast by facing him in his next contest.

Murray, from Manchester, claims an all-Lancashire scrap with Khan would decide who the best young lightweight in Britain really is, without the hype.

Murray, 22, won the Boxing Writers “Young Boxer of the Year Award” for 2006, and is set to gain valuable experience and exposure by fighting on the undercard of the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather mega-fight in Las Vegas on May 5.

He has stopped half of his 20 victims inside the distance, has challenged fellow unbeaten prospect Khan, 20, to meet him for his WBC Youth World Title on the show in the capital of boxing and back up his claims that he is ready to face anyone in Britain.

“It’s a joke, an insult to established fighters proven at Championship level to start saying that you are ready for them and that they need to fight you before you move on to bigger things,” said Murray.

“Jon Thaxton has established himself as a British champion and has been in the game years, so it’s a bit big-mouthed to start calling him out before he has even fought some of the other top prospects coming through.

“But I noticed he didn’t mention my name in there and didn’t offer me out. He knows of me and has seen me fight, but he doesn’t say he wants to fight me because he knows out of everyone coming through I’m the best.

“He knows it would be too much of a risk fighting me. We’re both from the northwest. It would be a massive fight there and for boxing in general in this country.

“I have called you out before. I will defend against you no problem. We are both young and the same weight. Stop talking rubbish! Put up or shut up.

“I was the first British fighter to win the WBC World Youth Title. It’s a title designed for fighters who will go on to win full honours like Khan is saying he will do.

“I've heard he’s mad to fight in Vegas, so why not fight me on May 5th. I would mow him down inside the distance.

“I would be up for defending against him on the show and it would be a big deal over there too. The Americans like me; I have fought over there and went down well. It would be great for both of us. He says he’s ready to fight anyone in Britain. Well he needs to fight me now then, on potentially the biggest event of all time.”

will not happen in a million years but it would be excellent to get this on the undercard of De La Hoya v Mayweather. Think it would be a fantastic clash of styles as well

I would mow him down inside the distance.

That's confidence for you. I'd like to see Murray-Khan, but it's highly unlikely it will happen. Not at this stage anyway. There's definitely a high risk factor for Khan in facing Murray & I doubt Amir's management would be too keen on putting something together.

Its a great fight, but unfortunately allegedly is involved.

I've only just recovered from the let down of Haye-Enzo not happening after Fwank insisted on the right to control Hayes career. Haye would have sparked Enzo and Fwank knows it

Some quick spin required here by SN. Or maybe just the silent treatment

Well if this fight doesnt go ahead then Khan needs to Shut up and stop talking like an arse...
He has been mouthing off and will now see his words shove back down his throat because he wont fight Murray.
Why say you're ready for the best in britain and refused a fight when its offered.
Forget Fwank,this fight would happen if khan was brave enough and if he does fight Murray,Khan's wins.

I agree if and when it doesn't happen it will be allegedly and not Khan that's the deciding factor. I really do believe that Khan wants these kind of fights, but I can't see Warren putting him in with anyone who has a legit chance of beating him this year.

khan would win quite easily i think

but its all just spin to get abit of publicity for John Murray - and its worked

Murray couldnt sell out phonebox thou, maybe this will help him ?

Go on yourself son! Khan will be shut up for a while now, thank fornicate. Would love to see this one but Frank wont let it happen I.M.O.

Franks protege in with John Murray, no way - The lad still needs a lot of protecting before he gets a risky fight - No matter how much Khan mouths off allegedly wont let him leave the nursery and go straight to university - Maybe it isnt very exciting for us seeing Khan win over guys who dont really stand a chance but Murray, Earl and Thaxton are all a massive risk - Khan needs better opponents each time he fights so that he progresses in the direction of that trilogy - However if he wants to hold a world title by this time next year the way I see it he would have to fight one of them next - It isnt going to happen though Frank isnt one for shooting himself in the foot - FW is a good business man and will launch his product at the right time - Khan won a lot of fans over, firstly with his skills and getting Olympic Silver and then by being a likeable kid - At venues he would praise the host city for giving him a big welcome and fly the Union Jack - His fan base was growing and people who didnt even follow boxing took to him - Gradually his confidence has turned to arrogance and that will do him no good at all - People will watch him for the wrong reason, to see him beaten as apposed to supporting him to watch him win - I hope Frank can influence him with regard to getting the fans on his side because as far as I can see Khan is losing fans with his current attitude - Trouble is he was treated like a star boxer in his first fight - People who are not even boxing fans tuned in to see Khan rather than the main event, and Khan knew that - My mates daughter is one of thousands that follows Khan but has little interest in the remainder of the bill - Its all gone to his head and spoilt him which is a shame.

Khan would outbox Murray pretty clearly.

Murray's basic but gets bruised up by journymen(hence why he pulled out of a Burns fight last October).

He's too basic for Khan.

Murray hasn't stepped up beyond the level on journymen fights either. He's had 20 fights and hasn't even stepped up! Hell even Mitchell has at least won the commonwealth title.

Hennessy Sports are doing a fine job when it comes to getting publicity from fights that won't happen. Hatton isn't going to fight Witter, Calzaghe isn't going to fight Froch, and Khan isn't going to fight Murray. But Hennessy's PR department are making sure their fighters get mentioned.

In this case though, as much as I like Murray, I think Khan wins, and quite comfortably. Khan may be disliked by a lot of us for his supposed arrogance, and truth be told, I'm not 100% fond of him myself, but he is the one prospect that looks a bit special. If the BBBofC had any integrity, they'd be ordering this match as an eliminator for Thaxton's belt. Or at the very least trying to make these two aim for Thaxton.

Max Molyneux wrote:Khan would outbox Murray pretty clearly.

Murray's basic but gets bruised up by journymen(hence why he pulled out of a Burns fight last October).

He's too basic for Khan.

Murray hasn't stepped up beyond the level on journymen fights either. He's had 20 fights and hasn't even stepped up! Hell even Mitchell has at least won the commonwealth title.

True. But Mitchell is the most protected of the lot. He may have won the commonwealth title, but his first defence was against Ramagoadi, a guy who Murray stopped two rounds earlier. In his tenth fight.

The Commonwealth title is very overrated these days. I appreciate doing things the traditional way, but nowadays the commonwealth belt is an excuse to get sub-par, underweight Africans over here. Occasionally, promoters get it wrong, and we get proper fighters like Munyai over here. But do you honestly think Mitchell would be fighting for the commonwealth title if Asiku decided he wanted to move up? No, neither do I.

Mitchell wouldn't get Ko'ed In a round like McKeever or Callaghan though even If the Inactivity didn't effect Asiku.

Why are we talking about who will win?
John Murray has already won this round,
If Amir does not fight Murray after saying what he said, he's lost a lot respect . Stop talking Khan, your just coming off silly

Hennessy seems to be the only promoter willing to take these fights,
I think it's a breath of fresh air

Why are we talking about who will win?

Because I want to talk about who would win.

Hennessy Is a good promoter but he hasn't stepped Murray up to British title level after 20 fights.

MY POINT WAS THAT WARREN WILL NEVER MAKE THIS FIGHT
SO WHY BOTHER
I WAS NOT TRYING TO OFFEND YOU
JUST TIRED OF NEVER SEEING THE GOOD FIGHTS
WARREN AND AMIR NEED TO SHUT UP

amir would beat murray. bruise him up and dazzle him and be too fast and carry to much power but murray would be paid well for his pains.
thaxton though would be a step too far for khan at this juncture. i think jon would stop him

Box Office wrote:MY POINT WAS THAT WARREN WILL NEVER MAKE THIS FIGHT
SO WHY BOTHER
I WAS NOT TRYING TO OFFEND YOU
JUST TIRED OF NEVER SEEING THE GOOD FIGHTS
WARREN AND AMIR NEED TO SHUT UP

Why would I be offended?

How do you know Warren won't make the fight?

Amir and Warren need to shut up? Give Amir a chance he's only just called them out.

Max Molyneux wrote:

Box Office wrote:MY POINT WAS THAT WARREN WILL NEVER MAKE THIS FIGHT
SO WHY BOTHER
I WAS NOT TRYING TO OFFEND YOU
JUST TIRED OF NEVER SEEING THE GOOD FIGHTS
WARREN AND AMIR NEED TO SHUT UP

Why would I be offended?

How do you know Warren won't make the fight?

Amir and Warren need to shut up? Give Amir a chance he's only just called them out.

Why Max do you always defend Warren?

They should throw him in with Murray, an undefeated fighter without a big punch. Would be aq decent contest too.