Murray Thaxton Preview
By: Andrew Harrison
Category: amir kahn, anthony mezaache, frank warren, john murray, jon thaxton, ricky hatton, Uncategorized
John Murray, the pressure fighting lightweight from Manchester, Boxing Monthly’s number one rated British man at the weight, will be looking to call time on Jon Thaxton’s career tomorrow evening in Altrincham and in doing so, win back the British 135 lb title he lost on the scales in June.
Murray, 27-0 (15) knows that a win here will set him up for a crack at Anthony Mezaache’s European lightweight title and therefore, despite being posted as a 1/8 favourite, he will be leaving nothing to chance.
Thaxton, 34-10 (19), rated fifth domestically by BM, really has nothing to lose here and has the big punch required to upset the applecart. The only win he has managed to pick up from his last four outings, saw him decimate Juan Carlos Diaz Melero with a wicked right hand wallop in annexing the European 135 lb title. He would subsequently lose this to the aforementioned Mezaache, the man his young opponent now has in his cross hair.
Thaxton will be hoping he can lure his industrious, cut and thrust opponent onto one of his patented humdingers, however he is likely to ship a lot of leather in the waiting period and one has to wonder really how much more the 35 year old can take. If he can weather the storm and manage to keep Murray honest by landing a few pearlers early on, he may just be able to drag the young man into a rough and debilitating dogfight. Murray has only been extended as far as 10 rounds on two previous occasions, whereas Thaxton has been around the block more than once; this is one tough cookie we’re talking about.
‘Jono’ remember is the fellow Frank Warren didn’t fancy throwing young Amir Khan in against a couple of years back, he knew that the man from Norfolk was more than capable of throwing a Breidis Prescott size spanner in the works. In perhaps Thaxton’s finest performance, way back in October 2000, he almost did just that against the future light welter king, Ricky Hatton. Opening a horrible gash over Hatton’s vulnerable brow in the first, the fight appeared close to being stopped in the eighth as Hatton’s blood decorated the Wembley ring. ’The Hitman’ managed to pull out the win in a bruising battle, however plastic surgery was required post fight.
Murray is the obvious pick here, he’s the younger man by 10 years, the fresher of the two and the one who’s carrying all of the momentum going in. Thaxton will give it everything and one can foresee him lasting the course and going out on his shield so to speak, however pressure bursts pipes and I feel Murray’s perpetual assault will take it’s toll on the veteran’s body. I go for Murray by late stoppage in a fast paced and gripping domestic thriller, busting Thaxton up to announce a formal changing of the guard at 135 lbs.
*The fight will be shown live from 8pm on ITV4
Thaxton discusses his chances:
7 comments on “Murray Thaxton Preview”
Leave a Reply
Blog at WordPress.com. Theme: Duotone by Automattic.
Yeah its hard to see past Murray here. Thaxton looked old against Glover, but one could argue that he wasn’t really up for that fight. It was a silly contest to take anyway. In any event, Murray is too strong, too youthful and at this stage, too good for Thaxton.
Murray in seven.
I agree the Glover fight needs to be taken with a pinch of salt Dave, Jon will be better than that performance. Murray’s hittable, not as much as folk make out mind you, but he’ll be right there for Thaxton to launch those big punches at. It’s a lot closer than the bookies are making out as well-that’s for damn sure.
I’m off down there tomorrow, early start so we can enjoy the hostelries of Manchester. From all the main events I’ll be casting my eye over this month, I’m up for this one most, should be a cracker.
I’m wavering over my prizefighter pick……my spider sense is saying Gammer!!!
Gammer, really? Hmmm, you could be right. These Prizefighter tournaments are hard to predict. As I said last night, a LOT of money going on Barrett over here. Started out a 25-1 shot, and now I hear he’s as low as 8-1.
Tomorrow night should be a cracker though, however long it lasts. Enjoy it mate!
Cheers Dave!! I know I fancied a few bob on Coleman but not after his price plummeted. The winner of Barrett-Gammer might well be the winner but as you said it’s become a finger in the air job.
Jaysus Haz, I thought Barrett had it in the bag. Harrison seemed like he didn’t want to know after the headbutt. But the straight left of his pretty much won him the tournament.
If Baker had turned up in half decent condition he might have made it to the final.
I thought Hughes was going to prove you wrong for a while Haz.
But he proved you right in the semi-final. Technically inept and his punching technique was rotten.
Ha, I was sweating there, kicking myself for not taking the 25′s on Coleman!! Shame for the lad though.
We were all laughing our heads off when Hughes began impersonating Mike Tyson…..I was thinking……egg…..face…..egg…….face……..
LOL.
Reminds me of the time Jeff Lacy fought Robin Reid. I told my mates that Lacy was nothing special and that Reid could take him. Of course Lacy went on to bounce Reid around the ring, leaving me ashen faced for the next 24 hours.