JOHN MURRAY is refusing to take Jon Thaxton lightly ahead of their October 3 fight for the vacant British
lightweight title.
Manchester's Murray is clear favourite to regain the title
he lost on the scales after weighing in two ounces over the 9st 9lb limit before his defence against Scott Lawton in June.
Thaxton has lost his last two bouts - and two of his last three - and at 35 is 11
years Murray's senior.
But the unbeaten 24-year-old feels the Norwich southpaw who
gave Ricky Hatton a hard fight is still dangerous and will be fuly committed in what could be his last roll of the dice at
championship level.
"If he doesn't win this I think he is going to retire so
he is going to put everything into it," said Murray, pictured, above right, sparring Paul Truscott.
"He will have dedicated himself 100 per cent in training because he knows it's his last chance.
"So I'm just treating this fight like I'm going to get the very best of Thaxton and when he comes
into the ring he is going to get the very best of me as well."
Thaxton has
revealed that his own father has advised him to retire rather than take the fight, because he believes Murray is going to
win by stoppage.
But the Levenshulme buzzsaw is not being lulled into a false sense
of security.
"I saw the comments saying his dad has told him to retire because
he thinks he is going to get stopped," he said.
"Even if his dad does think
that, you never know if Thaxton has put it out there for a bit of publicity.
"But
I know Thaxton is up for the fight and thinks he can win it."
Murray admits he
was unprofessional to come in overweight for Lawton, although he regrouped immediately to win in six one-sided rounds
in Wigan.
And the former WBC Youth champion is determined to avoid a similar fiasco
on the scales before he attempts to regain a title be believes is still his own.
"It was just a miscalculation last time," Murray told Fightnewz.net. "If anything I made the weight easier
than I did for my previous fights with Lee McAllister and Lee Meager.
"But
just being that extra bit lighter in training I think ended up costing me.
"Because
I was a little bit lighter I didn't end up doing an extra run I would normally and make the weight, so I just came in
a little bit heavy on the day of the weigh-in.
"It was unprofessional of
me and I didn't leave enough time to take the weight off.
"There was nobody
more annoyed than me and I think it showed because I came out and put on a good performance and I was up for it.
"But this is going to be the biggest fight of my career so far I think and I don't want any cock-ups
on the scales or anything like that."
Murray has never faced a southpaw in
his 27 professional wins but, having sparred the likes of Sam Rukundo in preparation, does not reckon the left-sided stance
will be a problem.
He said: "I haven't boxed a southpaw as a pro, I think I've
boxed a few switch hitters who are similar to Thaxton.
"I don't think the southpaw
stance should bother me. Thaxton's not your typical box-fighter southpaw anyway. He is rugged, he
is tough and up for a fight."
Murray is mandatory challenger for the European
title France's Anthony Mezaache took off Thaxton and he is hoping to conquer the continent before moving on to a world
title shot within the next year.
But with so much riding on the Thaxton fight,
his only thoughts are on the Norfolk man and he thinks the clash of former British champions in Altrincham could deliver
fireworks.
Murray said: "There is no-one in the world I wouldn't fight.
I think I've got a chance against any of them.
"Nate Campbell is up there and
all of those lads at the top of the division - there is Michael Katsidis as well and there is none of them who I wouldn't
fight.
"I think I'm going to be right there or thereabouts knocking on
the door for a world title in the next 12 months."
He added: "But I've
got to prove I can beat the likes of Thaxton before I move on from British level now.
"I still feel like I'm British champion, I think I'm still recognised as No 1 in the country and Thaxton is
the only person at my weight who I think can dispute it.
"I think it's
got all the makings of a great fight and it's a great story between two fighters at different stages of their careers
- the young bull against the old bull.
"It's a great fight on paper and let's
hope it lives up to it.
"Like I say, I've got to beat Thaxton, then want to
win the European title and hopefully in the next 12 months I will get a world title fight."
