By Frank Warren, courtesy of The Sun

THE Brits are on the road again this weekend.

Manchester's John Murray has a really tough but winnable fight at New York's Madison Square Garden, where he takes on unbeaten WBA world lightweight champion Brandon Rios.

Murray, 26, lost his unbeaten record in July to rival Kevin Mitchell, in what was voted 'Fight of the Year' by the British Boxing Board of Control.

I've been asked why Mitchell didn't get the world title shot against Rios seeing as he won.

But Mitchell had problems outside the ring and would have been unable to travel, so Murray got the Big Apple gig as chief support to the long-awaited rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito for the WBA super world light-middleweight title.

American Rios, 25, is highly rated by most experts. He is aggressive, throws plenty of punches and puts pressure on opponents.

For Murray to win he must work off the jab and use plenty of upper body and head movement to make himself a hard target.

If he comes out on top, there are some cracking fights to be made in the 135lb division — a rematch against Mitchell or a massive unification with interim WBO champion Ricky Burns.

Plus there are the other world champions in Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Vazquez and Antonio DeMarco.

Dereck Chisora is the other Brit in action overseas and must prove he has still got it in Helsinki against unbeaten Robert Helenius for the vacant European heavyweight title.

I had to give him a reality check this week when he moaned about his hotel and transport. He's lucky to get this fight and I told him so.

It is frustrating because Dereck is a talented fighter and can achieve things in this sport.

The Londoner was overweight against Tyson Fury in July and lost his British and Commonwealth titles.

But he has a chance to redeem himself and Finnish off Helenius. A win will open the door for him on the world scene and I reckon he can upset the odds.

These fights can be seen live on BoxNation — Sky channel 456 and Virgin channel 546 — tonight. For up-to-date boxing news and reviews visit www.frankwarren.tv

WHILE I'm in talks for WBO world light-heavyweight champ Nathan Cleverly's next fight, the unbeaten Welshman will be taking on former Countdown queen Carol Vorderman.

Maths graduate Cleverly, 24, will meet the TV presenter, who is an honorary fellow at Cardiff University, at a photocall next month.

JUST as New York is absorbed in Cotto-Margarito II, California will play host to another grudge rematch between IBF and WBC silver bantamweight champion Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko.

Mares won a controversial decision in August despite repeated low blows and criticism of the referee.

Pac Scrap on Track

THE Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao potential super-fight has moved a step closer.

Promoter Bob Arum claims two investors are looking to stage the "Super Bowl" type fight next spring.

Pacquiao said: "If it pushes through, once he signs the contract then I'll sign. It'll happen!"

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ANOTHER great from the heavyweight golden era has passed away.

So soon after we lost Joe Frazier, Ron Lyle died last Saturday from complications with a stomach abscess. He was 70.

He never fought Frazier, but he gave Muhammad Ali a scare in their 1975 world title bout before he was stopped in the 11th round.