Joe Gallagher column

Manchester Evening News28th October, 2009

JAMIE Moore's stunning defeat to Ryan Rhodes on Friday leaves John Murray out on his own as the stand-out fighter in Manchester, if not Britain.

Which is why it was so disappointing to read Amir Khan's comments over the weekend that he is considering fleeing to America.

A Khan-Murray fight is the one the British public are dying to see and I was always under the impression that Amir wanted it too.

I thought it was the people around him who were steering him away from John, but now I'm beginning to think it is the other way around.

Forget the politics, if Amir wants to fight John then all he has to do is tell the people close to him to make it happen.

He might be the WBA light-welterweight champion, but in his own mind he can never be at ease until he faces up to Murray.

My allegiances are obviously with John, who I have trained since he was a kid - but in no way does that cloud my judgement.

John is undefeated in 28 fights. His last four bouts have been British title fights and he's won each one by knockout.

John doesn't do overtime!

Yet he doesn't seem to get the credit he deserves. Perhaps it's because he doesn't go in for the glitz and glamour when he steps into the ring.

He's unshaven and he's rough and ready, but you know what you're going to get with John Murray.

When you go to the opera you want to see people sing. If you go to the ice rink you want to see people skate.

Army

When you watch John you're going to see a fight. He epitomises the Manchester style and that's why he's building up an army of supporters, who are going to follow him all the way to a world title.

As a coach it can be a nightmare because you want him to take it easy at the start of a fight, but he just goes for it as you saw against Jon Thaxton.

This is a man who Amir Khan wouldn't fight, but John blew him away inside four rounds.

That has put him in line for a European title shot and I think that this time next year he will be a world champion.

Things change quickly in boxing and while Amir is taking on Dmitri Salita for his first defence of the WBA crown, we will be in the business of making John Murray a world champion.

This time next year Amir might be banging on our door, desperate to fight John and I would be just one of thousands of boxing fans who would love to see it happen.

I keep saying it, but it could the Nigel Benn-Chris Eubank of this generation. Maybe even Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Combat

Lets get the best in the ring together, just like they do in UFC.

There is a lot of talk lately that Ultimate Fighting will take over from boxing as the No1 combat sport, but I don't go in for that.

The last time the two went head on TV in America, boxing outdid UFC by two to one.

Personally, I think the two sports can live side by side. Just last week I had Paul Kelly training in my gym.

But if there is one thing that UFC seems to have over boxing, it is the fact that the best fighters consistently face the best.

So what if one of them loses. It's accepted and they continue to fight the best.

The problem with boxing nowadays is that as soon as you lose a fight you're considered washed up.

Like most fight fans, I want to see the best get in the ring together and that's why everyone is so desperate to see Khan and Murray get it on.

Let's see if Amir wants the same.

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