Khan says No, but Murray says Yes by Kevin Taylor Jan 9th 2008

Current English lightweight champion John Murray is ready to step into the void left by Amir Khan and take on Jon Thaxton for his British title and possibly the vacant Commonwealth title, if Amir Khan is stripped by the Commonwealth committee. Unbeaten Murray today told BBN, "I'm disappointed that the Thaxton-Khan fight won't happen as it would have been a great fight, but in a selfish way I am glad because I now may finally get the chance I have been waiting for." "Thaxton and his team have been chasing Khan and now that fight is dead, I'd be happy to vacate the English title and fight Thaxton for his belt. "I've beaten Dean Hickman and the Mexican in Vegas, who were both tough kids, in the last couple of months but the Thaxton fight is the one that put's the fear in me, a little like the Kostya Tszyu fight did for Ricky Hatton, these are the kind of fights that I am hungry for. "Thaxton is a great pro and a great role model, but I believe the time is right for me to face him, people have said I have beaten a bunch of nobodies, so for Thaxton it should be an easy defence of his Lonsdale belt, he only needs to beat me to keep it forever. "Now that Khan has pulled out, Thaxton is left without a mandatory challenger, and I doubt he will have a fight for the next four or five months, I'm happy to step into the ring with him and I'll take that chance with both hands. "I want the fight and it can be made easily, I'll do what Scott Lawton did and give up the English belt for a shot at the British title. I'm ready for my shot at the British title. Who else can Thaxton fight in Britain now, I'm English champion so I should be given the chance to fight for the British title. “Sports Network got Khan his shot at their number one Graham Earl, so I'm now hoping that I can get a shot at the number one in the Hennessy camp.” Murray's trainer Joe Gallagher added "It's a fight that can be made and one that John really wants, no disrespect to John Fewkes, but we'd rather fight for the British title and maybe even the Commonwealth title. "And it will also give us a chance to see just how good John Murray is, I think it's a real 50/50 fight and if John loses so what, we can come back, but if he wins he will be British champion. "Domestically I can't see there being anyone else for Thaxton to fight if he wants to try and win the Lonsdale belt outright. These are the sort of fights that John wants and needs."

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