In Monte Carlo this weekend, the UK?s very own Martin Murray will be taking on a champion many perceive as the middleweight divisions next real superstar.
The fearsome punching power of the current WBA middleweight champion, Gennady Golovkin, has seen numerous opponents despatched with either a single punch or a cluster of punches.
His status is such that his knockout ration of 90% is the highest of any middleweight champion in history.
Golovkin, in his 31 fight career has picked up 31 wins and has stopped 28 of his opponents, enough to put the fear of god in many an opponent.
But, this time, the challenger is different, Martin Murray comes from pretty solid stock having also had a 31 fight career and although he?s not got a perfect record, having drawn one and lost one, Murray has never been off his feet and those two blemishes came against very respectable champions.
Back in 2011, Murray faced Felix Sturm, then the WBA champion and pushed the German all the way but only getting a draw with the solitary loss in his record book being a narrow loss to the WBC champion Sergio Martinez.
Murray is desperate to become a champion at the third time of asking and his preparations have been meticulous. At his fight camp down in South Africa Murray has suffered five weeks of hardship and has been away from his family as he goes through routines designed to see him emerge as the WBA champion this weekend.
One of these routines has seen Murray punching away at a punch-bag that has a picture of Golovkin attached to it and when speaking about what lies ahead, Murray has remarked to the media,
?Some of Golovkin?s opponents might give him too much respect, but I can be just as nasty as anybody when I have to be.
?Come fight night, I?m going to want to rip his head off. I?m sure he?s a nice guy but he?ll be the same way. He wants to take something from me and I want to hurt him.?
During his career Murray has only stopped 12 of his opponents, he doesn?t possess the same punching power as Golovkin but Murray is rugged and won?t be intimidated.
But, Matthew Macklin will vouch as to just how hard Golovkin punches and it remains to be seen whether Murray can, if hit, absorb the punishing punches Golovkin throws. If the challenger is still around come round eight or nine, we could just see Murray spring a major surprise.
Now whether that will be the case remains to be seen, Golovkin might just have too much power for Murray as he marches on towards greatness.
Can Murray Beat Golovkin?
