MARTIN Murray is confident of finally becoming WBO World Super-Middleweight champion on Saturday night when he takes on German warrior Arthur Abraham in Hannover.
The 33-year-old Woolston-based boxer, who has lost two and drawn one of his previous world title challenges, believes a number of factors makes this “his time”.
Murray, who hails from St Helens but has lived in Warrington for the past five years, believes a combination of the experience he has gleaned from his previous title clashes and feeling comfortable at super-middleweight give him his best chance to bring home the belt.
Murray said: “It is a tough fight and it being in Germany makes it even harder, but everyone has got this feeling that this is it, this is my time, this is when I finally do become world champion.
“It is a hard fight but I am ready to put myself through everything to finally come home with that belt.
“The experience I got from those title fights at middleweight – a weight I shouldn’t have been at – gives me more confidence going into this one at my natural weight.
“The other fights haven’t daunted me.
“The Sturm one came a bit too soon, I was never going to win the Martinez one and Golovkin was the hardest fight out there.”
Murray believes he can give the veteran, who fights in very powerful one-minute bursts, something to think about.
He said: “I have just got to put him in his place, it is about cancelling that out when he wants to work. That comes with experience, that is what we have worked on.
“Abraham has fought everybody – he is a warrior but I am something completely different for him.
“We’ve been studying him carefully and I believe I’ve got him beat. He is a great fighter, but he’s not changed his style in years, and in my opinion, he’s not evolved.
"It’s going to be a tough fight but I know it is well within me to win. I won’t be leaving Germany without the title.
“My boxing skills and versatility is going to get me through this fight.
“I cant stand there and trade with him for 12 rounds, I have got to mix it up. It is about having the knowhow when to do that best.
“He is a big strong fella so I have got to be wary. I think I have just got his number, but I have got to keep my mind on the game plan.
“There are only two ways he can beat me – one is if I get complacent and get caught with a silly shot and the other is the scoring.
“That’s it. If I stay focused for 12 rounds I have got the job done. It is mine.”
Watch tonight live on Sky Sports One.
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