By Elliot Foster

Martin Murray has signed a managerial contract with MGM Marbella.

The four-time world title challenger, who is a former British, Commonwealth, WBC Silver and WBA interim middleweight champion, joins the ever-growing Spanish-based outfit as he is on the trail for big domestic fights.

Murray (32-3-1, 15 KOs) is set to return to the ring in the spring, but he’ll have to go into his next fight on the back of a defeat after losing to Arthur Abraham in a challenge for the WBO super middleweight title in November.

“I am really happy and excited to be signed with MGM,” said Murray.

“I have been manager free for a while and along with my good friend and business advisor Andrew Mikhail we decided that the time had come for someone to take control of my management.”

The St Helens man, 33, has fallen at the final hurdle a further three times, failing to win global glory against Sergio Martinez, being stopped by Gennady Golovkin and getting a split draw at the hands of Felix Sturm back in 2012.

Murray, who trains in Salford, Manchester, under the tutelage of Oliver Harrison has express further delight at inking a deal with the Puerto Banus team.

He said: “I first met [manager] Daniel [Kinahan] when I visited MGM in 2011 and we became friends.

“He has always offered me advice and tried to help me and I have friends who are signed with MGM and they all say how good it is and how well they are treated.

“I'm at the stage in my career when I need that guidance to keep me at the highest level and get me the right deals.

“With the respect and connections that MGM have got I really feel that they are the team to do that for me. I´m really looking forward to the future.”

An announcement will be made in due course regarding Murray’s comeback.

But the management team at MGM have said they’re “delighted” to have signed Murray and “believe that he will become a world champion.”

“It’s not a question of if, just when [Murray becomes a world champion],” the MGM management team continued, “and that's what we are going to make happen.

“He was robbed against Felix Sturm, should've got the decision against Sergio Martinez, went eleven rounds with Golovkin and was unlucky against Arthur Abraham.

“It's just a matter of time. What's more, he is also a nice guy, a proper family man and someone who we can't wait to work alongside.”