Martin Murray has big plans for 2014 but knows he must first get past Belarusian Sergey Khomitsky at the ExCeL London on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
Murray rematches a man he beat in 2009 as part of a stacked 16-fight card this weekend but will have to be wary of the underdog against a former sparring partner.
If he is successful an exciting New Year beckons for Murray, who has been linked with a blockbuster fight against WBA World champion Gennady Golovkin.
“I beat Khomitsky back in 2009 and I had him over for sparring in the build-up to my fight with Felix Sturm,” he said. “He’s had a lot of notice for this fight so we know he’s ready. He’s no walk-over, he’s game and he’s going to come here to look for the win. The fans will see two people in there who want to win so it should be an interesting fight.
“From sparring I know he can punch and although a few people aren’t giving him a chance, sometimes that can motivate you more to do well. But I’m looking forward to getting back out there and fighting in London is fun. I haven’t fought down there for a while so I’m looking forward to putting on a good show.
“As long as I get through this and get through it well, we’ve got some good plans for the spring. I’ve got big plans for next year. I want to stay in the mix with the elite fighters and fight for World titles and that’s what I intend to do in 2014.
“I’d definitely be up for a fight with Golovkin. I want that fight but when it comes round I want to be a big as it can be to generate the most money. If the money is right the fights are there. Golovkin is definitely someone I’m looking at as a future opponent.
“I think I can beat anyone on my day, including Golovkin, I truly believe that. He is bound to say he can’t be beaten because of the way he dealt with Matthew Macklin and there’s a lot of hype around him and rightly so. But I think that he looked better than he really is against Macklin.”
The stacked card at ExCeL London features 16 fights with former World Lightweight title challenger Kevin Mitchell facing Italian Brunet Zamora for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental title while recent World Welterweight challenger Lee Purdy aims to take the European title from Italian Leonard Bundu, the fifth defence for the Lazio man.
Recent IBF Bantamweight king Jamie McDonnell is out for the second time in four weeks, Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo fights for the fourth time in the paid ranks and British Super Middleweight champion Paul Smith was added to the bill earlier this week.
There are two tasty Southern Area title clashes as Tony Owen defends his Light Welterweight strap against fellow Carshalton man Ricky Boylan, and Ryan ‘Crash Bang’ Taylor meets Floyd Moore for the vacant Lightweight belt. Danny Connor lost to Owen in their October meeting for the title, and he is in an eliminator for the English Light Welterweight belt against Tyler Goodjohn.
Erick Ochieng is back in action after his battle with Liam Smith for the British Light Middleweight title, moving down to Welterweight to face Welshman Dale Evans, unbeaten Super Flyweight Kal Yafai moves into double figures in the pro ranks, there’s a welcome return to the ring for unbeaten Lightweight prospect Martin J Ward and Essex Light Welterweight John Wayne Hibbert looks to build on his British Masters triumph. Cruiserweight duo Wadi Camacho and Ben Ileyemi and unbeaten Bristol Welterweight Tamuka Mucha complete the line-up.
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