Boxing News Boxing News
John Murray will get an opportunity to win back the British Lightweight title he lost outside the ring when he meets Jon Thaxton in Altrincham, Greater Manchester on October 3rd.
The mouth watering domestic dust up will hand Murray the chance to regain the title he surrendered on the weighing scales in June when he failed to make the 9 stone 9 pound lightweight limit by just 2 ounces ahead of a planned defence against English champ Scott Lawton.
The fight went ahead but without the Lonsdale belt on the line and Murray scored an impressive sixth round stoppage win over Lawton.
Now the two best lightweights in Britain will square off with former British and European Champ Jon Thaxton contesting the vacant title with Murray on a Hennessy Sports event at the Altrincham Leisure Centre on October 3rd.
The news comes during a week in which Murray was also named as the mandatory challenger for Anthony Mezaache’s European title.
Mezaache took the title from Thaxton courtesy of a controversial points win in February and a surprise defeat by Tom Glover up at welterweight in Thaxton’s last outing has seen Murray overtake his domestic rival in the European ratings.
Promoter Mick Hennessy has now handed them the opportunity to decide once and for all who is the best lightweight in Britain. “This is one of those domestic fights that will have people on the edge of their seats,” said Hennessy.
“They are two of the most exciting fighters in British boxing and this really is going to be a thriller. John Murray is one of the most exciting talents to emerge in British boxing in years and he’s on the verge of very big things on the European and World stage.
“You write Jon Thaxton off at your peril though. His defeat to Tom Glover last time out was up at welterweight, two weights out of his natural weight division and the Mezaache fight was a controversial decision. Jon’s a huge puncher and people have been writing him off for years and he keeps coming back to rip up the script and usually in spectacular style.
“Jon is only one win away from winning a Lonsdale belt for keeps and I know that’s a real driving force for him in this fight so there is so much on the line for these two guys.”
