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Amir Khan and John Murray have launched a stinging verbal assault on each other, with both men insisting they are desperate to meet in the ring.
WBA light-welterweight king, Khan, says he is ready to give the European lightweight champion a “boxing lesson” – while Murray fired back, claiming he would expose his Bolton rival as a “fraud.”
Khan, who hopes to make the next defence of his crown on July 31 at the MEN Arena or London’s O2, has added Murray to a list of potential opponents that also includes Joel Casamayor and Michael Katsidis.
He said: “Murray’s name has popped up and honestly that fight would be a dream come true for me because it would be an easy fight.
“It would be a boxing lesson against someone who’s been mouthing off for a long, long time. He was offered the fight when I was with Frank Warren and he didn’t take it, but people think I’m the one ducking him.”
Murray, who has the mandatory defence of his European title against Andrei Kudriatsev before the end of the summer, immediately hit back, saying: “I am more than happy to take the fight and I would expose him for the fraud he is.
“I think he’s conned the British public. He’s not a fighter. He's not fought anyone yet.
“He’s offering fights to me, Katsidis and Casamayor, who are all lightweights. He’s not willing to fight anyone from his own division.
“His camp know he’s not very good and he’s an accident waiting to happen. He’s looking to fight people at a lower weight because he knows that as soon as he fights someone decent at his own weight he’s going to get knocked out. But I hope he takes the fight because I will show him up for the fraud he is.”
There has been no shortage of ill feeling between Greater Manchester’s two brightest fighters for the past two years. And despite continual talks over a potential clash, boxing fans have been left waiting for a bout to be finalised.
There is still a possibility that the fight could come off in July in front of a sell-out MEN, but it could be shelved until the end of the year, with Golden Boy identifying Murray or Juan Manuel Marquez as ideal opponents for Khan as they look to build his name further in the US.
Murray’s trainer, Joe Gallagher, insists his man will take the fight whenever and wherever.
“Amir Khan is a bully, looking to fight smaller guys,” he said. “But Murray is one kid who won’t be bullied.
“We see nothing in Amir Khan that impresses or frightens us. He’s fast, he’s got two hands, two feet and a glass chin. Can someone remind Amir that he’s not a lightweight anymore? These are the fights he should have been taking two years ago.”
WBA light-welterweight king, Khan, says he is ready to give the European lightweight champion a “boxing lesson” – while Murray fired back, claiming he would expose his Bolton rival as a “fraud.”
Khan, who hopes to make the next defence of his crown on July 31 at the MEN Arena or London’s O2, has added Murray to a list of potential opponents that also includes Joel Casamayor and Michael Katsidis.
He said: “Murray’s name has popped up and honestly that fight would be a dream come true for me because it would be an easy fight.
“It would be a boxing lesson against someone who’s been mouthing off for a long, long time. He was offered the fight when I was with Frank Warren and he didn’t take it, but people think I’m the one ducking him.”
Murray, who has the mandatory defence of his European title against Andrei Kudriatsev before the end of the summer, immediately hit back, saying: “I am more than happy to take the fight and I would expose him for the fraud he is.
“I think he’s conned the British public. He’s not a fighter. He's not fought anyone yet.
“He’s offering fights to me, Katsidis and Casamayor, who are all lightweights. He’s not willing to fight anyone from his own division.
“His camp know he’s not very good and he’s an accident waiting to happen. He’s looking to fight people at a lower weight because he knows that as soon as he fights someone decent at his own weight he’s going to get knocked out. But I hope he takes the fight because I will show him up for the fraud he is.”
There has been no shortage of ill feeling between Greater Manchester’s two brightest fighters for the past two years. And despite continual talks over a potential clash, boxing fans have been left waiting for a bout to be finalised.
There is still a possibility that the fight could come off in July in front of a sell-out MEN, but it could be shelved until the end of the year, with Golden Boy identifying Murray or Juan Manuel Marquez as ideal opponents for Khan as they look to build his name further in the US.
Murray’s trainer, Joe Gallagher, insists his man will take the fight whenever and wherever.
“Amir Khan is a bully, looking to fight smaller guys,” he said. “But Murray is one kid who won’t be bullied.
“We see nothing in Amir Khan that impresses or frightens us. He’s fast, he’s got two hands, two feet and a glass chin. Can someone remind Amir that he’s not a lightweight anymore? These are the fights he should have been taking two years ago.”
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