BoxRec

Strictly Business

Hennessy Sports in association with GoldenPalace.net are proud to announce the all-Manchester showdown between Lee Meager and John Murray for the vacant British Lightweight Title at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan on Friday, 11th July 2008.

The Hennessy Sports pair have been given their opportunity after Jon Thaxton was given another shot at the European title.

Meager is a former British champion who lost the title to Thaxton on points in 2006 while Murray is the former English and WBC Youth champion who is still unbeaten.

Both Murray and Meager fought on the same Las Vegas bill in December, the night before Ricky Hatton's fight with Floyd Mayweather, and the two stable-mates know each other very well from sparring sessions.

Sky Sports will televise the fight live and promoter Mick Hennessy is expecting it to be one of the best fights of 2008.

"They've sparred together on a few occasions and ringside observers in the gym at the time have all said they have been out and out wars really entertaining encounters," said promoter Mick Hennessy.

"It's hard to see two of your own fighters square off but the British title means so much to them and they both want this title really badly."


Tickets will be available for purchase from Ticketmaster box office on

0870 060 1795 or via the web http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk from the end of this week.

Murray will have to be a lot sharper than he was last time out. If he is I think he'll snatch this on points.

I think this is perfect for Murray. He's had 8 rounds this year, and Meager will allow Murray to show off his considerable inside skills. Meager will know it's his last chance, so I expect to see a really fired up Meager. Great fight. Props to Hennessy for continuing to make good fights.

So why is Thaxton stripped?

This sounds as harsh as McIntyre.

Think he vacated it so that his stablemates could fight for it. I think it has something to do with Hennessy keeping his fighters all active, which is a good thing.

Jono was a bit fortunate to get the Euro chance again (IMO).

Regardless, the Murray-Meager winner will fight Thaxton. Murray's been bent on getting this fight for ages - I get the feeling fighting Thaxton is a personal thing. Meager will surely want to get his revenge, as well.

I'm glad to see Murray and Meager get something good to fight for. It's the fight, not the title, I'm bothered about. But the title gives them the big prize they want.

The main problem is Thaxton was close to keeping his Lonsdale belt, only needing 1 more defense, but he couldn't pass up the Euro.

Well no complaints about the worth of Meager or Murray in challenging for the title, although I think Fewkes is more deserving. However, I do think its a bit of a double standards thing - Warren/BBBoC got lambasted over the British Welterweight title.

A similar(ish) situation has arisen here, with no complaints infact its been applauded.

Fewkes is the English mandatory & is fighting for the English title vacated by Murray. Fewkes has not objected - to my knowledge - nor has anyone else that I know of, about the choice of Meager v Murray being put forward. No one's made a big stink about it, and hasn't Thaxton willingly given the belt up?

Kevin McIntyre had his title taken, and it's not like he's got any bigger prize that he's going for. It looks like he's been left in limbo - is there any assurance that he will get a crack at Brook?

Mick has to keep his lightweights active. He has 4 good ones (inactive Dave Stewart being the other) but it's all been about Thaxton prior to this.

Even if Thaxton beats Melero, it'll surely take loads more out of him, and would he be in any shape to meet mandatory Meager on time?

The most important thing is that the best fights are happening, IMO. It's very likely that the winner will not only defend vs Jono, but also have Sky build up to a fight with Fewkes as well.

It's important that the young fighters are kept moving. They're some of the most exciting and charismatic kids in British boxing and I'd hate to see 'em go stale. Give 'em the opportunities and they perform, and all is good.

stujones wrote:Well no complaints about the worth of Meager or Murray in challenging for the title, although I think Fewkes is more deserving. However, I do think its a bit of a double standards thing - Warren/BBBoC got lambasted over the British Welterweight title.

A similar(ish) situation has arisen here, with no complaints infact its been applauded.

It's not a similar situation at all. Thaxton has relinquished the title to fight for the European, he may or may not have got it written into the contract that he will challenger the winner if he doesn't pick up the European title. I would think needing just one more notch on the belt to keep the title I am sure he would have had this stipulation written into the contract when he vacated.

McIntyre was stripped because he pulled out injured and couldn't fight within the stipulated period, whether rightly or wrongly.

Meager was mandatory for the title anyway and Murray must be the natural opponent although Fewkes must have been in with a shout too.

Kev

why does romanov no longer hold the european title?

Romanov relinquished in order to concentrate on a World title shot

kevin wrote:Romanov relinquished in order to concentrate on a World title shot

Ah fair enough, your right about Jono being lucky to get the title shot, particularly judging by how long they took to give his hennessy stablemate Froch a shot at the EBU.

Did Thaxton HAVE to reliquish the belt in order to have this shot at the EBU title? Did the BBBoC stipulate that if he doesn't Meager by a certain date, then he has to vacate?

Wellington wrote: "They've sparred together on a few occasions and ringside observers in the gym at the time have all said they have been out and out wars really entertaining encounters," said promoter Mick Hennessy.

"It's hard to see two of your own fighters square off but the British title means so much to them and they both want this title really badly."

Either Hennessy said those quotes really fast, or the comma key on the PR guys PC is broken!

It's a good little fight and finally Murray has the chance to step out of the shadows.