MART: GEORGE NOT SAME FIGHTER
MARTIN MURRAY reckons George Groves is damaged goods after two stoppage defeats to Carl Froch.
Murray, 33 (left) faces British rival Groves in a WBA world super-middleweight title eliminator at London’s O2 Arena on June 25.
And he insists he is in better condition than Groves – despite being five years his senior.
Londoner Groves, who also lost on points to US-based Swede Badou Jack for the WBC world title in September, believes Murray will quit if he loses.
But the St Helens boxer said: “I really can’t NICK PARKINSON think about losing so I can’t think about retirement if l lose, like he says.
“I feel I’m only just getting into my prime. He’s saying that because he knows if he gets beat it’s retirement for him.
“I definitely think the Carl Froch fights took something out of him. He’s not looked the same fighter since and got put down and lost again against Jack.
“There has always been issues with his stamina and he’s been hurt a few times now. In his last two fights he didn’t look right, he looked shot. He didn’t have any confidence.”
It is make-or-break for both with seven failed world title attempts between them.
Murray has lost two and drawn once in world middleweight title fights, before losing a split points decision to WBO super-middleweight king Arthur Abraham last year.
But he said: “I’m going into this fight feeling the best I’ve ever felt. You are going to see the best Martin Murray you’ve ever seen.
“But I don’t think you will see the best George Groves there’s ever been.” evasion and his sense of distance were incredible.
“It was like trying to fight a Rubik’s Cube – he was such a puzzle – and try doing a Rubik’s Cube while you’re getting punched in the face. It would have been a nightmare.
“My love of boxing was a direct result of Muhammad Ali. I aspired to be the best as a kid and I knew he was the best boxer. So I wanted to be like him and tried to live my life so I could be world heavyweight champion like him.
“There will never be another Muhammad Ali, never. But there will always be people who are influenced directly by him.
“How many people box just because of him? I’m one of them.”
Haye launched a campaign in February to get Ali an honorary knighthood and an online petition has been signed by almost 30,000 people.
He said: “While it is a huge shame this did not happen when he was alive, to award it posthumously in honour of his incredible legacy would be perfectly fitting.”