BoxRec

Martin Murray: I'll Retire if Saunders Wins, Confident I'll Beat Him

Martin Murray is planning to retire if he loses to Billy Joe Saunders but believes he will defeat his fellow Briton to finally fulfil his dream of becoming a world champion.

The 35-year-old from St Helens (36-4-1, 17 KOs) is used to being viewed as the underdog. When asked about that being the case against the unbeaten 28-year-old Saunders (26-0, 12 KOs), Murray said: 'It doesn't bother me.

'Come fight night I'll be the best I've ever been.'

Murray, who has been working with trainer Jamie Moore, added: 'My other four (world title fights) have been out of the country.

'Barring the Golovkin one (the only one that did not last 12 rounds), had they been in England, with the decision I think I would have got the fight.

'Now I have my fifth attempt and I am fighting Billy Joe, an English lad, in England. Everything is there for me now to go and fulfil my dream.

'I am really confident April 14 will be my night, that I will finally become world champion.

'He's flying at the moment, younger, fresher, but I've fought better people, have more experience, and I'm desperate.

'If I don't win I'm going to retire, and I don't want to yet. I want to win a world title, and a desperate man is a dangerous man.'

Can't see the BJS being anywhere near competitive unless BJS seriously underestimates Murray which probably won't happen given his new lease of life under Ingle in Sheffield. Murrays had a great career though whatever happens and arguably should've been a world champion. He's a credit to himself the way he turned his life around. Looking forward to his book being released as well.

When a fighter starts talking about retirement their head is already partially out the game. Money is his main aim here and good luck to him

He's more than made the best out of the ability he has.

I do think he'll regret his performance against Artur Abraham, considering how easy Gilberto Ramirez beat him a few months later.

Good luck to him.

Robbed against Sturm (welcome to the club) and also unlucky against Martinez in Argentina. Had Sergio down twice, although the ref ruled one of them a slip. Has to be said, however, that was an ageing and fading Martinez and Martin probably regrets not being a little more aggressive in the championship rounds. Showed impressive skill in taking GGG further than anyone else had in a world title fight to that point, but I think the toll of those eleven rounds effectively finished Martin as a serious world title contender. Also, moving up to super-mid was probably not the right move. Credit to him for using his considerable ring savvy to take Groves the full twelve but Murray's natural build never looked a comfortable fit for 168Ibs. His fight with Abraham was a case of two past-their-best fighters working largely from memory but, again, all credit to Martin for doing enough to even have one of the judges awarding him the verdict (rare against Arthur in Germany - just ask Paul Smith).
I am glad Martin is getting one last decent payday against Saunders and although I give him zero chance of winning I do think the name of Martin Murray is at least worthy of a mention in the long-running 'best British boxer to never win a world title' discussion.

smiling assassin wrote: ↑22 Feb 2018, 10:14 When a fighter starts talking about retirement their head is already partially out the game. Money is his main aim here and good luck to him

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