For Martin Murray, perhaps the fourth title challenge will be the charm.
The English middleweight has had three unsuccessful tries since 2011, but will have another shot at an elusive world championship when he faces super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham this Saturday in Germany.
Boxing odds at BookMaker.eu
Arthur Abraham -120
Martin Murray EVEN
ODDS ANALYSIS
The odds at BookMaker.eu currently list Abraham as small favorite, with a -115 money line. Murray checks in at -105. Check our sportsbook for the round total - I’m expecting an over/under of 10.5 rounds in this 12-rounder. Please note, the odds listed here may have changed, as BookMaker updates their lines on a daily basis.
MARTIN GOING ALL OUT
Just last month, it was reported that Murray had left his training base at St. Helens to join his rivals at Wigan Warriors for strength and conditioning sessions. The 33-year old is ensuring that he’s in peak physical condition for this fight and is leaving nothing to chance.
“My strength and conditioning coach Mark Bitcon works with Wigan Warriors so I’ve been going over there a couple times a week and to do a session with them,” said Murray. “The guys know I’m a big fan of St. Helens so obviously there is a bit of banter, but despite the rivalry, the coaching staff and everybody involved with the club are more than happy to help.”
Murray traveled to Germany in 2011 for his first world title bout, but fought to a draw against Felix Sturm. Three fights later, he was in another title bout in Argentina, losing an extremely close decision to Sergio Martinez. He then won four in a row to earn his third challenge, but that came against Gennady Golovkin, arguably the best and most fearsome pound-for-pound fighter today. Murray was completely outgunned and knocked out in the 11th round. To his credit, he took Golovkin deeper than any other opponent.
Abraham, who will be fighting at home in Germany, is making his fifth 168-pound title defense. He defeated Robert Stieglitz twice, won back-to-back fights against Paul Smith, and also beat Nikola Sjekloca as the WBO champion.
“This is a great matchup between two real warriors,” Kalle Sauerland, Abraham’s promoter, stated. “Arthur has silenced his critics and proven time and time again why he is the man to beat at 168 pounds. His last performance against Stieglitz is testament to how much more he still has to give in the sport and we expect him to deliver another explosive performance on November 21.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
I’m a little surprised that Abraham isn’t a bigger favorite going into the bout. Murray hasn’t really beaten anyone of note since moving up to super middleweight. Abraham is the bigger, stronger man and I think the difference in power will become more apparent in the mid-to-late rounds. While Abraham is no Golovkin, he is strong enough to keep Murray on his bicycle. That’s not a good look for the judges.
PREDICTION: ABRAHAM UD MURRAY
HOW TO BET
Check in during fight night and get the latest live betting updates. You can bet on real-time odds during the bout, allowing you to hedge your bets or even make new ones as you watch on live television. Cotto-Alvarez takes place on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the TUI Arena in Hannover, Germany. The fight will be televised live on Sat.1 in Germany and SkySports in the U.K.
