John Murray still Bullish over Khan Challenge by Terry Dooley Apr 12th 2007

After his stoppage win over the recently retired, or is that recently un-retired then retired, Stefy Bull, Amir Khan had his immediate future put into perspective. It will be a twelve round title fight in July and to be honest Khan has a lot of fighters to choose from. Last week Khan issued a blanket challenge to all the British lightweight fighters, the likeable young prodigy feels that on his day he could beat any of them. Names such as Graham Earl (former British and Commonwealth Champion), current British Champion Jon Thaxton, Commonwealth boss Willie Limond and John Murray all fall under the remit of available names. As reported on BBN last week John Murray has publicly picked-up the gauntlet thrown down by Amir. Murray is due to fight on the fifth of May as part of the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather bill and the Manchester fighter felt that this neutral ground would be a perfect battleground for a fight between himself and Khan. For many reasons that fight, on that special night at least, is unlikely to come off. It would entail two British promoters working together to put together a fight on foreign soil. One can, judging by recent history, expect a squabble over the money with one promoter not accepting a reasonable figure (to the other camp at least) for his fighter or, failing this, we can expect that options are demanded. To be perfectly, and depressingly, blunt the wrangling to make a fight between Khan and Murray in May would probably result in demands for higher money than Oscar De La Hoya is getting as well as option demands that would leave Oscar and Floyd facing future fight options if they went through with their own bout. If we get the British promoters on-board this promotion the biggest fight in boxing will probably fall apart in acrimony and a rainforest-depleting amount of pressers. More realistic is a fight between Murray and Khan in July. John has conceded that he may have to fight on a Sports Network bill to get his man. Khan responded to the challenge of Murray with a world-title holder type dismissal of Murray along the lines that John is scared of him – a claim made strange by Murray's public challenge – and that Khan had played with John in sparring – the two have never sparred. At this rate Khan's biggest fight could be against his PR agent. Confidence can easily turn into boorishness, public opinion could easily turn askew and the golden boy could find the goodwill adorned on him when he won Olympic Silver turning into the same base metal poured over Audley Harrison's rather grand claims. John Murray was bullish when BBN caught up with him over the weekend. Murray wants the chance to fight Khan. The public want to see Khan fight anyone who will present a challenge. The two are British and are at the prospect level. Khan wants a title and John has one that comes equipped with a WBC ranking. Surely the fight should be relatively easy for Sports Network to make as part of their July bill? Here is what John has to say. BBN: Firstly how are you feeling about fighting in Las Vegas? John Murray: “Well I'm over the moon. Chuffed to bits to be honest. We heard about it a few weeks ago so I went for it in training hoping it would come off. In the back of your mind you think there is no way that it can happen because it is too big a show but last Sunday I got a phone call telling me it was on. I was promised the big fights and I've got one on a big bill in America which is what I've always wanted.” BBN: What is like for a young fighter to take part in a bill like this? JM: “It is amazing. This is the biggest show outside the heavyweight division. I think it is the biggest show ever. To be on the undercard of this is an absolute privilege. Hopefully I can put on an impressive display like I did last time over there. I've fought in America before and have been dying to get back over there. I stole the show last time and will be looking to do the same again this time. Hopefully we'll get a good opponent, I'll have a right tear-up and it will excite the fans as well.” BBN: Will you take a lot from just being around this promotion? JM: “The experience itself will be unbelievable. This is big-time boxing. It is at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas you know what I mean? This is what dreams are made off. The experience of being around it and seeing the press and publicity will make it unparalleled to anything that I've seen before.” BBN: So this more than makes up for pulling out of your last fight? JM: “Definitely. I was disappointed about pulling out of the show in March as I would love to have boxed, I like to fight and obviously that is what we are in the game for so this more than makes up for that.” BBN: Mayweather or De La Hoya? JM: “I think De La Hoya wins. He is too big, too cute and too experienced. Mayweather is a little bit cocky, a little bit brash – don't get me wrong he is good – and he is punching above his weight division here, Oscar is a little bit too big. Oscar will do him inside the distance.” BBN: Does it help young prospects like yourself when you take on American fighters abroad? JM: “Yes because they have a lot of gyms over there and the fighters are hard and train hard. They don't get paid as much as we do over here for those types of fights so they are really hungry.” BBN: You released a statement last week asking Amir Khan to put up or shut up, is that bravado or a fight that you would like to take? JM: “Definitely a fight I would like to see come off. I would love for it to happen in Vegas, the space is there open on the bill for me and Khan fights tomorrow so he is fit enough.” “Amir if you want to fight me in Vegas I would love it to happen over there. We are two of Britain's hottest prospects, world-class prospects, and there is less pressure boxing over there. Over here it is on a Warren show or a Hennessey show so we could go over there and box on neutral ground and may the best man win. We would have all the British interest involved so it would be great. I think it is one of the fights that can put British boxing back on the map. It would get kids coming back into the gym.” BBN: Did you find Khan's statements over the last week a little bit brash? JM: “Yeah because he called out a lot of very experienced fighters. These are hard men he is shouting out, the likes of Earl and Thaxton. They are men who have been in the game a long time and have had some good tear-ups. Thaxton took Ricky Hatton twelve rounds and a lot of people thought the fight could have been stopped because of Ricky's cut. Earl has had a tear-up with Kevin Bennett and came through it and I thought he was coming back against Katsidis a bit in his last fight so these guys have proven themselves in hard fights against hard men, fringe world-title class guys.” “These are quality operators and for Khan to come out with “oh I'll beat him and I'll beat him blah, blah, blah” is a bit over the top and he is trying to punch above his weight right now.” BBN: According to Khan he toyed with you in sparring? JM: “Well he must have taken a few punches to the head already because he is losing it! We've never sparred amateur or pro. His mouth is as reckless as his driving so he wants to watch out. All he has done has got people coming up to me asking me to shut his mouth!” BBN: Was the statement you made a bluff caller or one of intent? JM: “Intent definitely! I can't see why he wouldn't take the fight. If someone put me in his position – he is fit, he fights Saturday and has four weeks to prepare for a fight with me in Vegas – I can't see why he wouldn't take the fight. I'm a good opponent. He can make a name for himself on the biggest show in boxing so why not take the fight? There are no strokes being pulled it is just two men getting in the ring to see who is the best. It is two prospects going at it so why not take the fight?” BBN: How would you cope with his speed and movement? JM: “That is for us to know and for Amir to find out! He has got great speed and great condition so the hard work will be done to overcome the speed.” “I'll give you an exclusive on how I'll beat him – I'll hit him!” Sadly the fight will not be made in Las Vegas; there is a greater chance of a snowman walking through hell. Hopefully the fight is one that can be made for July. Khan will be ready to walk into his first title fight and John will be willing to put his WBC Youth Title, and the ranking that comes with it, on the line. This is Britain, prospects under the same promotional banner do not often fight one another let alone guys tied to different firms. Look for Khan to fight Willie Limond for the Commonwealth title instead. If they do decide to put together Murray and Khan the styles will gel nicely for the TV audience, plus the war of words has already began in earnest so neither lad will be shy in promoting the bout.

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