John Murray is Conflicted on His Future in Boxing

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Terence Dooley - British lightweight champion John Murray has been in dazzling form over the last year, his title defense against Scotland’s Lee McAllister saw John produce some good form late in the fight. With his stock, and confidence, rising Murray was hoping that he would go straight into another contest; he is a young champion, and eager to fight often while in his physical prime. Unfortunately his next contest will not take place until May, at the earliest, and it has left Murray worried that his momentum will be lost. [details]

[Dave Rado]

By Terence Dooley - British lightweight champion John Murray has been in dazzling form over the last year, his title defense against Scotland’s Lee McAllister saw John produce some good form late in the fight. With his stock, and confidence, rising Murray was hoping that he would go straight into another contest; he is a young champion, and eager to fight often while in his physical prime. Unfortunately his next contest will not take place until May, at the earliest, and it has left Murray worried that his momentum will be lost. [details]

I just lost a lot of respect for Hennessey. Not that I thought much of him before ...

[J Mac]

if murray could get the prescott fight that would put him on the map!

[liam_48@msn.com]

A very Intriguing article. I have gained a ton of respect for Murray after reading that, hes a no bull kind of guy he will tell you the truth. Hes completely right Kell Brook is on most peoples minds because hes fighting at least every 2and a half months. Hes got another scheduled fight for about 6 weeks time, that's how you build someone up.

[hookoutofhell]

murray is right he does seem to have dropped off the radar, if he wants to be better than what he is then he needs to be fighting ellas like craig watson, prescott, thaton maybe even khan. he knows that he needs the domestic fights first and needs to beat them, some fighters seem to think that they are above the domestic level a bit too soon (yes im looking at you khan!).

imo mick henessey wants to milk thaxton for what he is worth first and then he will give murray his shot, up until thaxton fades on the domestic scene i think murray will have to make do with learning his trade and being content with smaller fights. thats just the way it works - of course thaxton could call murray later on tonight and that would really throw a spanner in micks plans.

[Dave Rado]

murray is right he does seem to have dropped off the radar, if he wants to be better than what he is then he needs to be fighting ellas like craig watson, prescott, thaton maybe even khan. he knows that he needs the domestic fights first and needs to beat them, some fighters seem to think that they are above the domestic level a bit too soon (yes im looking at you khan!).

IMO, there's too much of UK fighters being focussed on beating domestic fighters who have no talent in world class terms - that does nothing for them in the long run. Look what happened to Jennings. What fighters of real talent need is for each fight to be against someone who can test them more than the last one did without actually beating them, and with a variety of different styles. In that respect both Murray and Khan have been badly served by their promoters. Khan fought 20 bums and then went straight to a relatively unknown but genuinely world class fighter and got destroyed. Holyfield faced more genuine competition in his first five fights than Khan did in his first 20.

Murray's competition so far has been even worse, hardly a good preparation for the world stage either. His best win so far was against someone rated #98 by boxrec, for goodness sakes! If he gets the fight with Prescott and wins, it will be despite, rather than because of, the match-ups he's had so far (and I think Prescott would beat him easily at this stage, it's far too big a jump in class for him).

Haye is the only British fighter I can think of in recent times who has had intelligent match-making on the way up.

Also Khan was never taught the fundamentals of the professional game until he teamed up with Roach, and continued to fight like an amateur - it's extraordinary that his promoter didn't ensure he had a good trainer and good sparring. We don't have many world class trainers in the UK, unfortunately, but we do have some.

imo mick henessey wants to milk thaxton for what he is worth first and then he will give murray his shot.

If so that stinks, and Murray should end the contract with Hennessey as soon as it's legally possible.

[fatmash]

leave that fat waste of space hennessy asap ................ say what you like about frank warren but least you get fights !!!!!!!!!

[majestiC]

Murray is currently my favourite British fighter, hes being held back by Hennessy. I can't believe some of the fights they were getting him after 20+ fights for Murray, it's good now that he has a British title and can start stepping up but it's a disgrace how hes been handled. For me he was the best British prospect there was in the last 5 years but has been constantly held back in his career, he blows hot and cold, no wonder when your put in with a guy with more losses than wins after 20+ fights.

[badnewsbrown]

murray is awful. fight breidis and get your ass whooped

[Savino]

I like Murray and hope he does well but I feel once he steps up in class he will struggle. Good article