Martin Murray's super-middleweight debut has The Panel excited
Nelson, McCrory and Moore lay it on the line
Friday 26 June 2015 11:03, UK
Martin Murray makes his super-middleweight debut on Friday night and having fought at the top level as a middleweight, he should soon be there or thereabouts in a packed division.
The St Helens fighter, 32, has been out of the ring since February, when he was stopped by middleweight supremo Gennady Golovkin in the 11th round and confirmed upon joining Matchroom that he has decided to step up to 168lbs.
With Carl Froch pondering a return, James DeGale holding the IBF world title, George Groves bidding for Badou Jack's WBC belt and the likes of Paul Smith, Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding in the chasing pack, there are plenty jostling for position. And that's just domestically.
On pedigree, though, Murray is up there with the best of them. He's a former British and Commonwealth champion and has held an interim version of the world WBA title. He fought - and arguably beat - Felix Sturm for the full version of the same strap in 2011 and suffered another agonising points defeat to then-WBC champion Sergio Martinez in 2013.
So what are we expecting from him when he starts his super-middleweight career against George Beroshvili? Here's what The Panel had to say...
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Johnny Nelson
It's the right decision for Murray for move up because he was a big middleweight. Of course, there are some intriguing fights for him at super-middle so I think it's the perfect move for him.
He's a soldier, he wears his heart on his sleeve and gets the job done so I don't for one second doubt that he's got the ability to succeed at super-middleweight. I'm really looking forward to seeing him operate at that level.
He's a soldier, he wears his heart on his sleeve and gets the job done so I don't for one second doubt that he's got the ability to succeed at super-middleweight.
Domestically, it's an absolutely packed division and it'll be very exciting if he can graduate to that level sooner rather than later because there are some great fights for him out there. He wants to gate-crash the party of super-middleweights and it's exciting.
Glenn McCrory
Martin Murray is a world-class operator. He can steal the show and look like a million dollars and people will be wanting to see him do that.
With those fights against Sturm and Martinez, Murray's been in the lion's den on a few occasions and this is a bit of a homecoming for him.
He'll be wanting to look good and people will want him to look good because he got great credit and won great support for his toughness against Golovkin.
He'll be wanting to look good and people will want him to look good because he got great credit and won great support for his toughness against Golovkin.
Now it's time to send out a message.
Jamie Moore
With Murray added to the bill late on, he hasn't had the big build-up. The opponent might not be the sternest test but Martin has been boxing right at the top level for his last few fights so he deserves a relatively easy introduction to his new division.
I don't think it's going to be too long before we see him boxing right at the top level again and challenging for world titles.
I don't think it's going to be too long before we see him boxing right at the top level again and challenging for world titles.
I've always said that super-middleweight would suit Martin better. He's always been a huge middleweight and I think we'll see the best of Murray as a super-middleweight now.
Spencer Oliver
Murray comes in as one of the highest rated super-middleweights because you can't buy experience.
He proved himself at middleweight against the top fighters in the world and held his own with them. He may have lost but he won himself a lot of fans when he beat Gennady Golovkin.
I expect Murray to be up there with the top super-middleweights sooner rather than later.
There was also Sergio Martinez and Murray was unlucky out there in Argentina. All in all, I expect Murray to be up there with the top super-middleweights sooner rather than later.
Spencer's prediction: I think he'll be looking to send some shockwaves through the super-middleweight division so I feel Murray will produce an early stoppage.
Watch Murray v Beroshvili, Callum Smith v Christopher Rebrasse, Tony Bellew v Ivica Bacurin and Rocky Fielding v Brian Vera live on Friday night from 7.30pm, Sky Sports 1
