Murray confident of fourth-time lucky in Abraham world title bout
Published:
Lee Gormley | November 18, 2015
Arthur Abraham v Martin Murray
- WBO super-middleweight title fight
- Saturday, November 21st
- Scheduled for: 21:00 GMT
- TUI Arena, Hannover, Germany
- Live on Sky Sports 1
Murray makes fourth world title bid
Martin Murray is poised to make it fourth-time lucky in world title fights when he challenges Arthur Abraham for his WBO super-middleweight belt this Saturday night at the TUI Arena in Hannover, Germany.
The St Helen’s fighter (32-2-1, 15 KOs) fell agonisingly short on three previous attempts, having been held to a draw against Felix Strum in 2011, losing a contentious points decision to Sergio Martinez in 2013 and putting on a strong, yet unsuccessful showing against Gennady Golovkin earlier this year.
Murray at comfortable weight
After his last defeat to middleweight wrecking ball ‘GGG’ in February, Murray moved up to a more comfortable 168-pounds and is confident of dethroning WBO titlist Abraham (43-4, 29 KOs) on German soil, where he is 13/2 with Coral for a stoppage victory.
“I’ve had three world title fights now at a weight which was always hard to make,” stated the 33-year-old.
“It was not the real me in there when I was fighting. Now I’m at this new weight, I’m feeling great and everything is better.
“Timing is right for me..”
“Abraham is a great champion and I’m expecting a tough fight, but I just feel that the timing is right for me now.
“I know I have it within me to win. I’ve got the ring experience, I’ve got the know-how, and I really feel, despite being in Germany, I’m going to get a fair crack of the whip.”
Smith Jr gives Murray confidence
Murray’s Matchroom counterpart Paul Smith Jr gave his next opponent Abraham plenty of trouble during their first contest last year, but the challenger has refused to underestimate the two-weight champion, who is 9/2 to retain his crown by KO.
“Arthur has looked great in his last two performances,” continued Murray. “I think I’ll be facing the best Arthur Abraham on Saturday night.
“He may of overlooked Paul Smith a little bit in their first fight, but I don’t think he’s going to overlook me.”
The former British and Commonwealth champion has stormed to three successive stoppage triumphs since moving up divisions, sparking out George Beroshvili in two rounds, then stopping Mirzet Bajrektarevic and Jose Miguel Torres both in the fifth.
Abraham targets unification
Though Murray faces an Armenian-German opponent who cherishes battling in front of a favouring home crowd, having won his last seven straight bout in Germany, and he is 11/8 for a decision victory, after claiming he wants unify the division.
“When I first started boxing my dream was to become world champion. I achieved this in 2005, winning the IBF middleweight title and then defended it 10 times before moving up to super middleweight and becoming a two-weight world champion,” declared Abraham.
“Now, my dream is to unify the division. I believe this would be my greatest achievement in this sport and that is what still drives me on as a boxer.
“If I lose this fight, my dream will be shattered. I cannot let this happen. It will be a tough fight, but in my current condition, Murray can’t hold a candle to me, and on Saturday night, there will be only one outcome.”
Tough test in Germany
But the fight favourite is wary of the threat that Murray poses, with the Merseysider 13/8 to earn a points win, adding: “At this stage of my career, I don’t want to fight any easy opponents. I need fights that will motivate me, and that is why we chose Murray.
“He has challenged for world titles before and against Sturm, Martinez and especially Golovkin he has already boxed three world-class opponents.
“I know this is a dangerous fight and that has given me the motivation I need.”
During an action-packed weekend of boxing, Murray will look to finally clinch a world title at the fourth time of asking, but Abraham will potentially provide his sternest test since a brave battle with middleweight devastator Golovkin.
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