John Murray versus Ricky Hatton by Terry Dooley Nov 8th 2007

BBN watched a closed session sparring workout between John Murray and Ricky Hatton ahead of Murray's British title fight with Dean Hickman this week. John had been asked to help Hatton with his initial sparring as well as ensuring that John got 18 rounds of good preparation for his bout against the naturally bigger Hickman. John was not awed by the experience in the slightest, despite finding Hatton hard to pin down at times Murray kept calm and by the 5th had built up enough steam to work his own combinations on Hatton. At times Hatton would move John back but every time this happened Murray would make sure that he was in a position to respond. Despite Hatton using his strength to force John onto the back foot as often as possible Murray kept to his style tight and ensured that the rounds were brisk for both. There were noticeable improvements in Murray's defence, understandable given that he was sparring a bigger man. After the final 6 rounds Hatton told the few observers present that he had spent the past week sparring “one tough bastard”. It was good work for Murray ahead of his biggest domestic fight to date. For Hatton is was a chance to find his range ahead of the commencement of the rest of his sparring in preparation for his fight with Floyd Mayweather. Afterwards BBN spoke to Billy Graham and Ricky Hatton about Murray's showings that week. Billy Graham: “I've known John for some time and you always read good stuff about him, plus I've seen him fight obviously, but I was even more impressed with him this week. “Do you know how hard it is for people to hold their own in sparring with Ricky Hatton? I was surprised at how calm John was. I knew he was tough but never knew that he was that tough. “John is calm under pressure as well and I like that. “He brought pressure in the first (day) session and Ricky came back in the next one. In every session they did good things. He helped us because the pace John helped set in sparring will assist Ricky no end. I'm very impressed. “Murray has durability, he is tenacious and he has the shots and the variety. Anybody at his weight is going to have a real tough time with him.” Hatton had been enthusing about Murray all week. After each sparring session he would spend time talking with Murray about what to expect from Hickman. Hatton went through what he thought Hickman would bring and how it could be countered. As for the sparring himself, Hatton explained the reasoning behind it to BBN: Ricky Hatton: “My other sparring partners come in on Monday (the 5th) but the sparring with John was all about helping each other out. It has been good. “John has got a fight coming up and it is all about helping your pals out. When I was a prospect I used to spar with Andy Holligan, Steven Foster (Senior) and Ensley Bingham. That was a big help on my way up. You have to help a young Mancunian prospect. John was helping me out as well really. He helped me sharpen my tools. “I'm very, very impressed with him overall. John is very strong, very determined and (he is) as tough as they come. I like his style of fighting as well because it is a bit like mine. He is really going places. “I've had sparring partners come down who are middles and light-middles and they haven't given me as good sparring as that. He is one for the future and one to watch out for.” The sessions came towards the end of John's preparations for the fight and they have left John in good form ahead of this clash. Hatton calls his early rounds “touching up sessions” but there is nothing touching or soft about them. His touching up for Castillo involved a ding-dong battle with his brother Matthew, rounds that had their father, Ray Hatton, covering his eyes and giving thanks that their mother was not there to see them go at it. Hatton is renowned for his commitment in sparring, he will not take liberties but once that first bell rings he is all business, as is Murray. There is also a symbolic aspect to the rounds Murray shared with Hatton. Murray took to the sparring like a duck to water, there was no sign of a freeze or hesitancy and this, almost Mexican, stoical stillness is something that John brings to the ring when he is on form. John will have learned from the rounds and the conversations with Hatton but he will also have taken a little lesson away from every shot Hatton hit him with, and every moment Hatton turned him will be turned over in Murray's mind. Like the children caught playing with fleas who, when asked what they would do with the fleas after they finish playing, claimed that “we will kill the ones we see and the ones we don't see we will take away with us”, Murray will take a little lesson for every blow he took, and gave, against Hatton in sparring. In his fights with Johnny Walker and Nacho Mendoza Murray was steadied once in each fight with right hand counters so he will be sure to watch out for the right hand of Hickman as well as being aware that he needs to also pay attention to the left. To that end John's preparation has been ideal. Murray's plans now need to be realised in practice. A good win for Murray and he can prove those who believe, as this writer does, that he is the most rounded prospect in Britain. More interesting than John Fewkes, technically better than Amir Khan and with a toughness that will be hard to match; a good future is awaiting John, he just needs to step into it and claim it as his own.

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