Martin Murray says he’s put in all the work for Golovkin showdown

Martin Murray put together a rigorous training camp for the biggest fight of his career against GGG, and is ready for it to pay dividends.

All training camps are hard – they are designed to be that way so that the actual fight is supposed to easy. Of course, every person’s method to a training camp differs, with some being more grueling (both physically and emotionally) than others. For what is now the biggest fight of Murray’s career, he claims to have put in all the work and made all the sacrifices to emerge victorious – even going to South Africa for the final five weeks of his camp to train in solitude and high altitude.

“Being away from my family has absolutely killed me,” said Murray, in a press release from British promoter Mick Hennessey.

“I can look back now and think, well, at least it’s nearly done, but, at the time, it was hell. I was lonely, I was down. But it needed to be done. I’ve got no regrets whatsoever. If I had to go back and do it all again, I would. It’s been tough but worthwhile.”

“I’m heavily involved in my kids’ lives and I know I’ve been missing a lot of things,” said the challenger. “I’m a very hands-on dad, so every day I spend away from them eats me up inside. But I can make up for it on Monday when I see them and bring home that world title.”

Murray is under no illusions that there isn’t mutual respect between he and Golovkin, and even says they’ve gotten along fairly well during the press tour (and really, how can you not get along with a smiling ‘good boy’ like Golvokin) but he’s refrained himself from getting along too well with Gennady and says all of that is out the window once the bell rings.

“When we have a press conference I’m professional and courteous,” he said. “But, come fight night, that’s not going to stop me wanting to rip his head off. He’ll be the same way. We’ll shake hands and be perfectly nice to each other, but that goes out of the window on Saturday. He wants to take something from me and I want to hurt him.

“Some of Golovkin’s opponents might give him too much respect, and they might be all smiles and handshakes at the press conference, but that’s just stupid. They obviously didn’t grow up where I grew up. I respect his ability as a fighter, and I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but this is a fight and I can be just as nasty as anybody when I have to be.”

Martin also goes on to describe how he always hangs a picture of his opponents on a bag or a wall during his camps, a method that is by no means unheard of, and how it helps him provide a clear vision of what he’s about to face.

“A picture of Golovkin was put on the heavy bag on day one and it was still there when I left for Monte Carlo on Friday,” said the 32-year-old. “It wasn’t done for publicity. It’s something we’ve always done. No matter who I’ve fought, there has always been a picture of them on a bag or on the wall. It’s just good to have their face in the gym. It makes you constantly aware of what is to come.

“To be honest, I’m sick of the sight of Golovkin now. I’ve seen him every single day.”

All things considered, Martin is a heavy underdog for good reason, and few (if any) really expect him to have a chance at beating Gennady. As far as him being sick of looking at Golovkin’s face goes, I suppose once he takes a punch induced mat-nap he’ll no longer have to. Then everybody wins! Just not in the literal sense though…