MARTIN Murray says he has the mental strength to stop runaway train Gennady Golovkin when they square up next February.

The 32-year-old Fingerpost fighter will tackle one of the hottest properties in boxing for a third world title shot after overcoming niggly Italian Domenico Spada in Monte Carlo on Saturday night.

Murray, now enjoying a few weeks of rest with his family before returning to prepare for the fight of his life, was considered by many to be harshly treated when he lost on points in previous world title fights against German Felix Sturm (2011) and Argentine Sergio Martinez (2013), both in their own backyards.

Four wins in 10 10 months since the Buenos Aires showdown now give ‘The Pride of St Helens’ a crack at Golovkin’s WBA Super World and IBO belts on February 21 in Monte Carlo, surroundings he is familiar with having just defended the WBC silver middleweight title he won there in June against Max Bursak.

Murray said: “Golovkin’s crushed everybody he’s been in with, but I’ve got the tools to beat any middleweight out there.

“I wouldn’t be taking the fight if I didn’t think I could win.

“A lot of his opponents have gone into the fight already beat. You won’t get that with me. I’m gonna go in there and stand up to him.”

Golovkin, who watched Murray’s clash with Spada from the ringside and has fought twice before in the Monte Carlo Casino, has won 13 straight world championship fights – all by stoppage – on his way to confirming his status as one of the world’s most exciting boxers.

“It feels great to get this fight. Murray is a great fighter, very strong,” said Golovkin, of Kazakhstan.

“I remember the Sergio Martinez bout - it was an amazing fight. Along with Matthew Macklin and Daniel Geale, Murray is one of the best pure boxers in the division.

“I like to test myself. I’m giving him a chance and for Europe this is the biggest fight in the middleweight division.”

Promoter Rodney Berman, of Golden Gloves, agrees with Murray.

“As we all know, Murray’s a world champion without a belt,” he said.

“He won’t be intimidated for one second fighting ‘GGG’, unlike all of Golovkin’s challengers.

“I have the highest regard for Golovkin, but the truth is his opponents have been sitting ducks. Out of fear, they lose the fight before they step into the ring; they’re intimidated and scared.

“You look at Murray’s background and just know he won’t be cowered. He’s the first guy I’ve seen who will create angles, who won’t stand in front of Golovkin waiting to be hit.

“Murray will make Golovkin work. He has the ability to out-hustle him.”

A huge barmy army of support is expected to follow Murray into Monaco in four months’ time.

Murray, via Twitter, has thanked everyone for their support and said tickets, priced £200 standing and £350 seated, can be reserved for his Golovkin fight via icsacc@googlemail.com.

It was a dramatic seventh-round technical decision win against Spada that kept the new world title hunt on track.

After 1min 19secs of the seventh round the fight was stopped due to a cut over the Roma man’s right eye.

But, with that gash caused by an accidental head-butt from Murray in the third round, the judges came into play and scored victory 67-66, 68-63, 69-67 in the Saints fan’s favour.

It was Murray’s 29th win from 31 fights against a rough-house opponent eager for his 40th victory from 45 bouts.

Murray, who is trained by Oliver Harrison, said: “It was an improvement on the last fight. Nobody has ever done that to Spada before.

“We showed that we are world class and that we’re on to bigger and better things now.”