Martin Murray is confident of stretching his unbeaten professional record to 25 when he faces French champion Karim Achour at a sold out Manchester Velodrome this weekend.
The 29-year-old Commonwealth middleweight champion, who was crowned Prizefighter king in 2008, is hungry to turn his dazzling record into a world title by next year.
The fight is on the undercard to Scott Quigg’s mouth-watering battle with former world title contender Rendall Munroe.
“I’m looking forward to the fight,” added Murray. “You don’t become French champion if you can’t fight a bit so this guy is going to be a tough and different test for me.
“He’s quite a small and stocky opponent and he comes at you with aggression. So he will be looking to take the fight to me. I will be ready for that and I am confident of getting the win.
“Training has gone well for me and I’ve had an unbelievable camp. All boxers will say they have had a good camp, but I really have.”
The only blemish on Murray’s record was a bruising draw against German WBA super-middleweight champion Felix Sturm in Germany, in December.
In his three fights before that, the hard hitting St Helens fighter dismantled all his opponents inside five rounds.
“I hope I get tested this time and I am sure I will,” Murray told Lincboxing. “I want to get a few rounds under my belt because I haven’t fought for a while.
“But of course if he is there to put away then I will put him away.
“The Felix Sturm fight was a real eye opener for me and I want another shot at a world title as soon as I can.
“I am learning all the time and I am not the finished article. But I know I have what it takes to become a world champion. It is my dream.”
Last month, Murray blasted long-term middleweight rival Matthew Macklin after the latter “pulled out” of a fight between the two.
Undefeated Murray was ready to go toe to toe with Macklin at the M.E.N Arena on September 22 in what would have been one of the most eagerly-anticipated domestic clashes of the year.
“I don’t need Matthew Macklin,” said Murray. “He has nothing to offer me.
“The only reason I signed to fight him was because I wanted to shut him up once and for all.
“I was quietly going about my business before he started mouthing off and calling me out on Twitter.
“I was extremely confident of beating him. He is on the back of two defeats so he’s on the way down.”
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