Will HBO say no to Khan-Murray?
January 23rd, 2011
By William Mackay: WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan is reportedly looking to take on the smaller, inexperienced and little known EBU lightweight John Murray (30-0, 18 KO’s) in his next fight on April 16th in the UK.
The one problem standing in the way of Khan being able to select an easy opponent like Murray is HBO, the American cable company that will also be showing Khan’s next fight. HBO has high standards and they seem to have adopted a policy of only agreeing to put on fights they feel will be exciting and competitive.
They no longer are agreeing to serve up mismatches, and they also don’t like to show fighters in main events that haven’t been seen before by the casual boxing fans in the U.S. This means that Murray will likely be rejected as an opponent for Khan’s next fight. Khan can always still fight Murray if he wants, but it just means that his fight probably won’t make it on HBO.
Since Khan obviously wants the money HBO will be paying him by putting his fight on their network, Khan is going to have to go back to the drawing board and look for someone that HBO will agree to show. Khan can find an easy answer to his problems if he would just agree to fight knockout artist Breidis Prescott on 4/16.
HBO will probably jump at the chance to show this fight, and it’s much more appealing that Khan trying to sneak Murray or Paul McCloskey past the network in what would likely be dull mismatches against fighters that Americans have never seen before and likely never see again after Khan easily beats one of them. HBO needs to reject Murray, McCloskey and another one of Khan’s potential opponents Lamont Peterson.
That’s not a good fight either, because Peterson looked horrible in his last fight against Victor Ortiz. If Khan wants to face Peterson and take an easy tune-up, he needs to do it without HBO because I have a feeling they’re not going to agree to that fight either. HBO believes in putting on quality match-ups like Khan vs. Marcos Maidana. That’s the gold standard right now, and Khan needs to try and measure up to that by fighting Prescott or giving Maidana a rematch.
Tags: 16 Responses to “Will HBO say no to Khan-Murray?”
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But prescott is ok who is also a lightweight, you absolute clown, murray is a big lightweight and struggles to make the weight in EVERY fight.
john murray is not much smller thn khan, however, he doesnt have the class, no speed, no movement and weak defence.
If you watch Murry’s fights he is still very amatuerish in the sense you can see lot of flaws in his game.
Khan will expose him, Murry needs to fight better opponents, than what he hs faced so far maybe try Kotelnik?
Styles make fights, i dont think murrays style will cause Khan problems, in fact it will be the other way round.
Katsidis would be a good test for Khan.
Maybe Kahn and Murray can fight on a double header with Haye and Harrison at Wembly or Manchester…..They are allways talking about fighting the best guys but end up fighting slugs……well at least Kahn did fight Maidina, he got busted up and saved by the ref but he did fight…..
theres only 3 fights for this khan.maidana rematch,prescott or sit around waiting for the alexander/bradley winner.no one cares about khan unless they know who hes fighting and why hes fighting them.
all fights should be HARD all real champs fight everybody………Ali forman …ray leonard.. joe frazer to name but a few
Khan did NOT beat Maidana fair and square the ref saved him and i believe tha he was in the pocket of Kahan side
khan said hes going after mccloskey and peterson, he never mentioned john murray
Murray is a sucker for a left hook, he tends to drop his right guard after he punches. Khan might easily get this guy out, if this fight ever happens. Styles make fight, hopefully he’ll learn prior to meeting Khan. Co’z Khan could counter him fast and demolish his 0 lost. Best for Khan is to fight Marquez, rather than this dude. Khan should jut forget about the money, just go for the fame. Or ask his friend Pacman to pay him after extra if he demolished Marquez, Good deal?
william mackay needs to get over it. khan beat maidana fair and square so stop going on about it. why does khan need to even fight prescot when he khan fight the winner of alexander v bradley and become the best in the division- common sence.
unify the devision and move up to face mayweather and other super fights, make serious money and get out.
william u shouldnt write cos u chat shiiit
khan proved against maidana he has a chin and can withstand power, john murray is every bit as tough if not tougher than maidana and he can also box, dont think khan will have an easy fight against murray
@oh macoy… u are incorrect. one of the reasons khan took on maidana he was told by hbo if compatition was not stepped up they would not show his next match.
Khan might as well wait until June and fight the winner of Alexander vs Bradley. Khan will only get slagged off no matter who he fights. The whole Khan, Alex, Brad and maidana scenario was supposed to be a tourney anyway. Best 4 in the division to get it on.
F..k HBO, this is a British fight for the British people. Anyway Murry is a strong guy and very good – but he will lose to Khan. This fight is not meant to be a hard fight for Khan cause Khan wants the winner of Brad vs Devon.
I’d have to say “yes” considering that HBO and GBP are tight.
hbo is adiment about only setting up big fights this year. khan has to keep compatition up to stay on hbo they are done with b.s. fights
Even tho the writer is a tool he is write can sould fight khan prescott next he sould win easy get revenge keep hbo happy and make more money than any other fight just now