By Jake Donovan
The date was August 6, 2005. John Murray, all of 20 years of age and a month shy of two years in as a pro, was set to make the transition from overseas newcomer to worldwide lightweight prospect.
His opponent for the evening was American journeyman Johnny Walker, but the fight was less about whom Murray was fighting than where and in front of whom. It was his stateside debut, fighting in Tampa (FL), beneath fellow Brit Robin Reid’s failed bid at unseating then-undefeated super middleweight titlist Jeff Lacy.
The SHOWTIME crew was in the house. While the cameras only rolled for the main event, there was no question that every other fighter on the card treated the night as an audition.
Murray fought accordingly, dominating Walker every second of the bout, even racking up a pair of 10-8 rounds en route to a six-round shutout across the board. The win was his 13th as a pro, and was to serve as a springboard for bigger and better things to come.
They haven’t. Yet.
The undefeated Mancunian has managed only as many fights in the four years since then (13) as he logged to that point in his career. Two more fights in America would follow, both buried on under cards of mega events headlined by Floyd Mayweather Jr. Showtime has repeatedly expressed an interest in showcasing him on their SHOBOX series, but all that has come of it to date have been a series of unfortunate events that have kept him off of American airwaves.
A lesser man would’ve thrown his hands in the air and mistaken the journey as a sign that greatness isn’t in the cards.
Fortunately for his handlers, John Murray recognizes the fact that “making it” requires treating the sport like a marathon rather than a track meet.
“There’s no question my career could’ve progressed faster,” admits Murray (26-0, 14KO). “I thought I had my chances, but they didn’t come for one reason or another. I’m in a good place right now, but I just need the opportunity (to progress).”
A major step in the right direction comes this weekend, when he faces serviceable lightweight Scott Lawton in the main event at the Robin Park Centre in Wigan, England.
It’s not a fight that will immediately lead to a much coveted world title shot, but will put Murray in position for bigger fights. For starters, looming in the horizons is an autumn showdown with in-country rival and former European lightweight champ Jonathan Thaxton, a fight Murray hopes to eventually parlay into a crack at the division’s top prize.
But at the same time, he has to prevent from Saturday becoming a trap fight – namely, take care of business and not just settle for a win, or even assume that one automatically come.
“I know what’s at stake, and know that I have to be 100% ready for anything to happen (on Saturday),” insists Murray, who fights for just the second time this year. “I beat Lawton, and it’ll be that much quicker to a world championship, which I hope to secure in the next year.
Patience, young man. Patience.
“I won’t look past Scott Lawton. This fight is a chance to sharpen my tools after coming off of a long break. I want to make a statement in this fight before defending (the British lightweight title) against Thaxton, who is still world class. I’m focused on this fight.”
While patient for his opportunity to come, focus hasn’t exactly been his strong suit. By his own admission, Murray’s greatest attribute is also his most glaring flaw – the knack for fighting to the level of his opposition. When faced with a threat, he’s at his best, whereas perceived made-to-order opponents tend to compromise his commitment to excellence.
The greatest example of the latter came 13 months ago, which was the latest attempt to have him fight in front of Showtime’s cameras. For months, Murray prepared for a showdown with John Fewkes, at the time a fellow unbeaten British lightweight.
The bout was originally scheduled for late March 2008 before being pushed back six weeks due to changes in the show’s main event. All systems were a go until a bout with gastroenteritis forced Fewkes off of the card just three days prior to fight night.
Murray’s handlers scrambled to find a suitable replacement before settling on Syrian journeyman Youssef Al Hamidi. What looked like a gimme turned out to be the longest eight rounds of Murray’s young career. At the end of the night, he won the fight but lost the crowd.
While escaping with his undefeated record still intact, Murray’s performance was slammed in the media and hardly left an impression on Showtime.
What began as an audition resulted in a learning experience, though a lesson Murray had long ago suspected was already the case.
“I feel like I can be less than 100% and beat certain opponents,” he explains in trying to come to grips with perhaps the worst performance of his career. “When I’m at my best and against the best, I win big.”
That point was driven home in his very next fight, just 62 days later. A few weeks before younger brother Joe would represent Great Britain in the Summer Olympics, John delivered his most complete performance to date.
At stake was the vacant British lightweight title as Murray was set to challenge countryman Lee Meager last July. Meager had previously dropped a decision to Jon Thaxton but was still viewed as a viable threat. Murray took a round or so to warm up, but eventually came on like gangbusters before stopping him inside of five rounds.
To this day, he views the win as the cornerstone of a career still very much in progress.
“Winning the British title, taking Meager apart the way I did was easily my proudest moment as a pro,” he recalls. “After that fight, I felt like I was really ready to move on.”
Unfortunately, he once again found his career stuck in neutral. The fight would be his last of 2008, a year that would only add two wins to his ledger.
“Perhaps I grew stale from the lack of inactivity. I thought for certain that a major fight would follow, but it was back to the drawing board.”
Only this time, he used the downtime as motivation rather than a deterrent. Murray returned to the ring earlier this year, engaging in a spirited affair with Lee McAllister before scoring a body shot stoppage in the eighth round of the first defense of his national title.
Five months later, he looks to make it three straight knockouts before finally moving on to bigger and better. But regardless of what transpires after this weekend, he remains loyal to those guiding his career, particularly promoter Mick Hennessy.
“I have a great relationship with Mick. He’s been with my career since I’ve started and has done everything I’ve asked of him. All he asks of me is that I keep winning and remain confident in his ability to advance my career.
“Hopefully by this time next year, I’ll get my big push. I have to keep knocking them out; then, it’s only a matter of time.”
Time, which is no longer of the essence for John Murray, whose come to accept patience as his greatest virtue.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .