Manchester ace John Murray is enjoying his best-ever training camp as he prepares for his big European lightweight title defence on April 2.

 

Undefeated Murray will travel to London's home of boxing the York Hall, Bethnal Green, to take on reigning Spanish champion Karim El Ouazghari.

 

And he is aiming to put on a commanding performance that will set him up for a big world title shot in the summer.

 

Under top trainer Joe Gallagher, Murray has already been putting in the hard yards to ensure he is in the best shape of his career.

 

Among those he has sparred against are Commonwealth Featherweight Champion Stephen Smith, British Lightweight Champion Anthony Crolla and Mark Heffron - brother of unbeaten top prospect Ronnie.

 

"Signing with Frank Warren is a new start for John, and it's definitely made him up his game in the gym," said Gallagher.

 

"I can see that he is really buzzing in sparring, and his game is at a different level.

 

"He knows that he has got a great opportunity to kick on and nail down a world title.

 

"He won't let it slip now."

 

Murray, 26, holds British boxing's longest unbeaten record, and captured the Lonsdale belt before he moved on to European glory.

 

"Sparring has been going great, its tough and hard, just how I like it,"

 

"Our gym is buzzing with champions and it's great to have some quality fighters to mix it up with," he said.

 

"Smith is Commonwealth champion, Crolla is British and Heffron is a top prospects, so I've got to be on top of my game with these guys.

 

"To be honest, given some of the talent I face in the on a daily basis, my fights are easy!"