By Mark Vester
If the opportunity presents itself, unbeaten lightweight John Murray is ready to move up in weight for a domestic mega-bout with WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan. Murray, ranked at number three by the WBC, would like to get a fight with the champion Humberto Soto. Another priority is the winner of Juan Manuel Marquez-Michael Katsidis, taking place on November 27 in Las Vegas.
Murray wants to land a major fight at lightweight and make a name for himself at 135, and them move up to fight Khan. Judging by his comments, Murray is likely not going to move up in weight to face Victor Ortiz on the Khan-Marcos Maidana undercard on December 11.
“I want to make a name for myself in the sport and if that means going up a weight to do it, I will. But I do want to conquer the lightweight division before I do that. There are some big names and I’d love to clean up the division. There is so much interest in me going up a weight because Amir Khan’s there, but I’d like to conquer the lightweights and then a year or two down the line me and Amir can fight, both world champions, both kings of our divisions. That could be an absolutely massive, mega fight down the line," Murray told the Manchester Evening News.
Murray will keep a close eye on the Marquez-Katsidis bout. He hopes to land the winner in the first quarter of 2011.
“Marquez and Katsidis is a fight I’ll be watching with great interest,” said Murray. “I don’t want to take the easy option and avoid people, I want to fight the best and prove I’m No 1.”
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