BOXING DAYYYYYYY MARTINEZZ AND MURRAY

back to boing Murray has no doubt he can upset Martinez as pair weigh in for world

St Helens middleweight Martin Murray is fiercely focused on springing a huge upset when he tackles homecoming hero and WBC champion Sergio Martinez in Buenos Aires tomorrow night.

Murray, an undefeated former British and Commonwealth title-holder, is a massive underdog ahead of his trip into the lion's den of the Estadio Jose Amalfitani, where a partisan crowd in excess of 40,000 will give their vociferous backing to pound-for-pound star Martinez.

The 38-year-old is boxing in his native Argentina for the first time since February 2002 - jobbing bouts in the Spain and the UK followed before a move Stateside to complete a tirelessly earned journey to world-title glory for one of boxing's most highly respected practitioners.

Eyes on the prize: Martin Murray (right) faces a formidable challenge when he takes on Sergio Martinez

In 28 bouts since beating countryman Francisco Antonio Mora, Martinez has tasted defeat only once - a highly controversial points defeat to American Paul Williams in December 2009 that was avenged by a brutal one-punch knockout triumph a year later.

More recent successes have come with wins over British duo Darren Barker and Matthew Macklin, both halted in 11 rounds following earlier encouragement against the lavishly gifted southpaw, but Murray is confident he can go one better than his domestic rivals.

'I've not come over here to lose or to make numbers up,' said the 30-year-old during conference call to round off a hectic promotional schedule. 'I've trained hard and I truly believe I can win.

'Sergio's a great fighter who I've looked up to over the past couple of years but I truly think it's my time.

'Whatever Sergio brings on Saturday I'll be ready for and I'm just looking forward to being in a great fight.'

Chiseled: Murray (left) and Martinez weigh in ahead of their clash in Argentina on Saturday night

Murray finds himself in the thick of a highly-competitive world middleweight scene on merit, having previously performed impressively when thrown into a tough assignment on foreign soil.

Few observers gave a fighter barely tested beyond domestic level much hope when thrust into a challenge for then WBA ruler Felix Sturm's belt in Mannheim, Germany 16 months ago.

But Murray grasped his opportunity impressively, doing enough in the eyes of many to dethrone the experienced champion before a 12-round draw was announced - the only time he has failed to emerge victorious in 26 professional contests.

'The Felix Sturm fight was a great learning experience for me,' he explained. 'Loads of things I learnt there I'm going to be bringing into this fight with me.

'I know Saturday is going to have to be the best performance from me but it's a performance I'm well capable of producing.

'The fact that it's against such a great fighter in his homeland has got me up for it. I have to raise my game and will raise my game on Saturday.

'I'm looking forward to putting all my hard training to good use and coming out victorious.'

Come on! Murray has been guided by promoter Ricky Hatton (left) as he bids to win a world title