Billy Joe Saunders Faces Tough Test Against Martin Murray

Billy Joe Saunders Faces Tough Test Against Martin Murray
16:11, 25 Jan 2018

Whenever a fight is made every fight fan instantly has a gut reaction which until it’s thought through can change – but not always.

When Frank Warren announced that Billy Joe Saunders will defend his title against Martin Murray my gut reaction for Saunders was: ‘You could come a cropper there.’

The WBO middleweight champion will have done due diligence with his camp and of course to be the best you must fight the best but this could be a real test for the Hertfordshire man.

While he has undoubtedly proved his pedigree of late (particularly in his last fight when he beat Canada’s David Lemeiux) fighting Murray will be the ultimate test to date.

Now 35, Murray is unfairly seen as the nearly man of the middleweight division having twice been robbed by judges in world title fights.

But the St Helens man’s record belies a skilful, tough, durable fighter who will take Saunders places he has not been in a ring before.

Murray was the first man to take arguably the hardest hitter in world boxing, Gennady Golovkin, 11 rounds and that is the only time he has been stopped in 41 professional fights. He took Sergio Martiniez, Arthur Abraham and George Groves the distance.

Saunders in contrast has not stopped an opponent since 2015 (Yoann Bloyer in round four) and while he has impressed in recent fights, there will be many who think this may prove a tough ask.

He has improved his game dramatically since switching camps to Adam Booth and it would be testament to his professionalism if he could beat Murray and secure a shot at one of the division’s big hitters.

Of course, Saunders should be applauded for taking the fight and ultimately will have to beat fighters like Murray if he is to achieve his dream of becoming the best in the world.

For Murray, this is likely to be his last chance at becoming a world champion and that again will give him a spring in his step during the training camp.

Saunders will have to be at his very best to beat Murray. If he does and does so convincingly the whole division will have to take note.

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