Hatton Tips Murray To Upset WBA Champ Sturm In Germany

Martin Murray will be bidding to become Hatton Promotions first ever world champion in Mannheim tomorrow night.

St Helens’ Murray (23-0) goes into the lion’s den when he challenges WBA Super Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm (36-2-1) in Germany.

Murray, 29, will start a huge underdog to beat the German superstar, but Hatton Promotions head Ricky Hatton, who will be ringside, is confident of an upset.

He said: “I feel Martin Murray can become my first world champion. Apart from his obvious talent - he's in his prime, hungry, fresh, with very few miles on the clock. This is the right fight at the right time.”

Sturm will be making his 11thdefence against Murray but there were signs that he could be in decline when snatching a controversial points win against Matthew Macklin in June.

British, Commonwealth and WBA intercontinental champion Murray added: “I watched Sturm’s defence against Macklin and made it a draw. When it is that close - the champion on home soil usually gets the decision and there could be no real complaints.”