ST HELENS fighter Martin Murray says he is confident of being crowned world champion after being handed his first opportunity to win a title since moving up to super middleweight.

But he will have to go into the lion's den to do it when he takes on WBO champion Arthur Abraham at the Tui Arena, Hannover on November 21.

Despite that Murray is confident that a combination of factors come into play for this bout and he strongly believes "this is the one", and is already contemplated winning the belt and opening up the possibility of a Langtree Park homecoming.

But he faces a massive obstacle first in what will be his fourth world title tilt.

Murray stepped up to the 168lb division after his latest attempt to become middleweight world champion ended in a brave defeat to the outstanding Gennady Golovkin in February.

Three straightforward fights later and the 33-year-old from Fingerpost bounces into this clash with high hopes and a steely determination, revealing that he effectively been planning for this opportunity since returning to the gym post-Golovkin.

Murray said: "I knew it was a possibility and did not think he was going to give me this opportunity until I was made his mandatory challenge.

"But full credit to him and his team he has given me this opportunity.

"I have not been out of the gym from when I started back training in May.

"I have been keeping myself fit just in case and we are buzzing at the fact that I have got it.

"It is is a tough fight but they all are at this level but it is one we are confident of winning.

"The time is right; a combination of now being at my proper weight, the experience I have got behind me and how hungry I still am for it.

"I think this is the one."

In taking on Armenian-born German citizen dubbed King Arthur in his own backyard there are shades of Murray's first world title challenge at middleweight about it.

Just like Felix Sturm, who Murray drew with back in December 2011, Abraham rarely fights away from Germany.

In fact three of the 35-year-old's four losses, in a record of 43-4-1, have come when he has boxed outside of his adopted country.

Murray wants to put that aspect of the challenge to the back of his mind when he enters the ring in six weeks time.

"It does not play on my mind that much, or else I wouldn't be going over there again," he said.

"I have just not got to think about it, and I am confident of going over there and beating him convincingly enough to take it out of the judges' hands.

"It is is going to be extremely tough but I am ready for it. The fact that it is in Germany does not help my chances, but I am still confident."

That confidence is built on solid foundations after enjoying a productive year since losing the toughest fight of his career against Golovkin.

He has had regular fights, coinciding with his switch to Matchroom,which is a bright contrast the periods of inactivity that followed his three previous title challenges.

"I had a good break and then came back at a different weight, feeling fresh, hungry and enjoying boxing again and I have had three quick fights on the bounce.

"I am going into this fresh, but with a bit of momentum rather than stale like I have done in the past."

 


Murray and his team have been eyeing the four belts at this division since making the switch, working out where the best chances to get a crack at where one of them would come from.

It is fair to say Abraham has been on the radar for a while now and plans have been hatched accordingly - but now it gets really serious.

"We have been working on ways of beating him for a while now, but now that the fight is six weeks on Saturday we now take it up a few levels and get into doing it properly.

"Oliver will work out the game plan about dissecting him and put it into action on fight night," Murray said.

Abraham is tough and experienced, having been a world champ at middleweight and now at super middleweight and knocking out 29 of his previous opponents.

Although Murray is not putting the cart before the horse, he knows that winning the belt would fulfil one dream, but also open up the opportunity to complete another mission.

"There are options in the contract about rematches, but I will deal will all of that once I have got the belt.

"The main focus for me is winning, but it opens up some great fights and keeps my dream alive of fighting at Langtree Park.

"I speak with CEO Mike Rush and a few others at Saints and they have had that idea in place a long time and know that they want it too. I've been ready for a long time.

"Hopefully I can get this belt won and then hopefully get a big homecoming at Langtree," he said.