Murray hopes kotelnik does everyone a favour and ko's Khan

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JOHN MURRAY is backing Paul Truscott for Commonwealth title revenge - and hopes Andreas Kotelnik will “do everyone a favour” and knock Amir Khan out.

Teessider Truscott kicks off a bumper weekend of British boxing on Friday when he tries to avenge his sole defeat against John Simpson at Eston.

Manchester’s Murray, who lost the British title on the scales last month when he failed to make weight, has been sparring Truscott and tips him to turn the tables against the Scot.

But he has stuck the boot into rival Khan, who challenges WBA light-welterweight champion Kotelnik in Manchester on Saturday, questioning both his chin and world title credentials.

“Paul is a quality boxer and I think he is going to show everyone just how good he is,” said Murray.

“I think he should dominate things against Simpson. I think he will outbox him and maybe there is a good chance that he will stop him in the mid-to-late rounds.

“He is punching harder than ever and I’m ideal sparring for Simpson, so he couldn’t have any better preparation and I think it’s gone well for him.

“We are improving each other all the time.”

Rugged Murray - who has won all 27 of his fights, with 15 knockouts - has unsuccessfully chased a fight with Khan for the last couple of years.

Murray says Khan has done little to deserve a world title shot.

And the unbeaten 24-year-old feels Germany-based Kotelnik can emulate Breidis Prescott by knocking him out.


“I just think if Kotelnik can keep it tight, as soon as he hits Khan on the chin he is going to get knocked out again,” said Murray.

“I think Khan is an accident waiting to happen and I know he is one of the most wanted fighters in the world at the minute just because everyone knows that as soon as you hit him he is going to go.

“I don’t think Khan is a good fighter and I can’t work out the maths how he even gets a world title shot - in the weight above as well.

“He got knocked out off a lightweight, beat an over the hill (Marco Antonio) Barrera who came up a weight to fight him and he beat Oisin ***an, who is a PE teacher from Ireland.

“Hopefully this Kotelnik will do us all a favour and knock him out.”

Exciting Murray said he would move up to light welterweight in a heartbeat to challenge Bolton ace Khan if he does beat Kotelnik.

But he is planning to win world honours at lightweight despite failing to make 9st 9lb before destroying Scott Lawton, for which he was fined £1,500 by the British Boxing Board of Control last week.

“I’d move up and fight Khan no problem. I don’t fear Khan at all,” said Murray, who thrashed Lawton in five rounds at Wigan.

“A fight for the British title against Jon Thaxton has been mentioned for me next and I would love to fight the European champion (Anthony Mezaache). I think I would walk right through him.

“Ideally I would like to fight the world champion, I think I am ready to be world champion.

“I think I’m the best lightweight in the world. It’s just a case of going out there and getting those chances and taking them now.

“I’m just waiting and biding my time. When my opportunities come I will have got there because I deserve to be there, and won’t have been gifted it like Khan.”