Murray will smash Khan

15/ 7/2008

JOHN Murray would "smash Amir Khan to pieces" if the pair fight for the Brtitish lightweight title.

That was the unequivocal view of the Manchester man's promoter Mick Hennessy after Murray turned in a devastating performance to win the Lonsdale belt at the expense of his courageous pal, Salford's Lee Meager.

Murray himself was happy to let his superb display do all the talking - after three years of calling out Olympic hero Khan, he is weary of trying to talk up the fight, and he knows there is no chance of Khan's handlers letting their prodigy get in with someone of the new champion's ability.

Murray destroyed any chances of landing his dream fight just as comprehensively as he destroyed Meager, whose bravery and willingness to go to war was a bad tactical approach.

Murray's trainer Joe Gallagher had spelled it out before the fight - he felt that a Murray win, coupled with an indifferent display, might just sway Khan's promoter Frank Warren towards pairing the two men off for a unification fight when Commonwealth champ Khan debuts at the MEN Arena on Sept 6.

But Murray showed all the qualities which made him 2006 Young Boxer of the Year. He was sharp, strong, accurate and hurtful, and if he builds on this display his handlers' hopes that he could succeed Ricky Hatton as Manchester's next fistic hero are not as fanciful as they seemed.

Hennessy was ebullient: "He would walk through Khan on that form, smash him to pieces. It just showed that John needs to fight at the top level to bring out the best in him.

"If Frank Warren wants to make the fight on September 6, I wouldn't stand in the way, because it's a fight that should happen. As long as they are reasonable about what they want to pay John, we would be happy."

But Murray is all Khan-ed out. He knows that the Bolton lad would fight him tomorrow, but Warren is not Britain's most successful promoter for nothing.

"I should have been British champion two years ago, but I had problems outside the ring and ran up some debts," he said.

"Now I am free of debt, have the belt, and the sky is the limit. People keep asking about Khan, and I would love the fight, but to be honest I am setting sights on Jon Thaxton now.

"If Jon wins the European title in September by beating Juan Carlos Diaz Melero - we could fight for British and European."

Do you think Murray would beat Khan? Have your say.

Most recent 2 of 2 user comments