Ricky Burns vs. Terence Crawford RBR

Yeah, this does look very much like a career lightweight versus a career feather...

 

Round 2

Murray is catching jabs, rolling around with his guard up, elbows pointing outward. Murray is chopping Simpson down with right hands marching forward unabated. BIG HOOK ON THE BODY BY MURRAY!! Simpson takes a long count on all fours but rises at nine. Murray walks Simpson down, clear across the ring. Simpson dials in as powerful a left hook on the jaw as he can muster but leaves his gut open for a counter uppercut. Simpson down again. Up. Murray nails him with another body shot. The bell rings and ought to preserve Simpson for another minute - but no! Waved off.

TKO2!!

 

Has Murray ever been the small man in the ring?

Rios and Mitchell were about his size, but every lasting image of him for me is just of him looming over guys (Thaxton, Buckland, now poor little Simmo...) who probably had more than enough skill to compete on even terms with him if they weren't so tiny in comparison.

...and they all, to a man, showed immense guts in failing to slay the giant.

 

It wasn't really a one-shot deal, more gradual.

Three body shot knockdowns spread over a few minutes. The first was probably the nastiest.