Unbeaten European lightweight champion John Murray is sparring with his younger brother Joe ahead of next month's fight with Kevin Mitchell.

Joe has started his professional career with 10 straight victories and even though he operates at the lighter featherweight, is no pushover, according to John.

''Joe is very sharp and very skilful and he has helped sharpen me up, '' said John, the older of the two Mancunians.

''Mind you, once we start sparring there is no love lost. It is more intense than sparring with other guys and that is just what I need.''

Murray says will ''live like a monk'' ahead of the WBO Intercontinental title fight, which takes place in London on July 9.

He said: ''I am going to push myself to the limit because I need to be in top shape if I am going to do a real good job on Kevin, which is what I expect.

''I will go to the gym, then to my mum's house, eat, sleep and run. I will be like a machine for the next six weeks. But you have to live like a monk.''

Mitchell is determined to get back to winning ways after losing his unbeaten record to Michael Katsidis 13 months ago. He has not fought since.

The Dagenham fighter insists he is in better shape now mentally following that setback.

He said: ''I let myself down, I let my trainer down and I want to change things around. I have been grafting away.

''Before the last fight I had a lot of things on my mind, I was missing out on training sessions, I was hardly running.

''It was not a wake-up call as I knew before the fight things weren't right. I knew I could beat this kid but I had a lot of family issues going on.

''Now I've got myself sorted out and I've been happy, been good. Things happen for a reason and I fancy myself massively in this fight. I will be too powerful and too fast for him.''