Martin Murray To Return To 160, Hopes To Be at Golovkin-Jacobs

By Matt Bevan

Martin Murray will move back down to middleweight in 2017 as he aims to continue his quest to become a world champion.

The St Helens man could possibly return on March 25 at the Manchester Arena, exclusively live on Sky Sports, as part of the undercard to Jorge Linares and Anthony Crolla’s rematch.

Murray (34-4-1, 16 KOs) was unsuccessful in his three challenges for world honours –– a draw with Felix Sturm, as well as losses to Sergio Martinez and Gennady Golovkin –– and has since been campaigning up at super-middle since his loss to middleweight ruler Gennady Golovkin.

He failed in another world title challenge, this time against Arthur Abraham, before he was comprehensively outclassed by George Groves.

The 34-year-old did win his last fight, though, with Nuhu Lawal in Monaco, but has since confirmed his intention to move back down in weight to the 160-pound division on social media.

“[I] think I’ll go back down to middleweight this year,” Murray tweeted.

“[I] feel more effective at that weight and like usual, I will fight anybody.”

No date has yet been confirmed for his return, but the aforementioned March 25 date has been rumoured.

However, those plans could be scuppered as Murray is hoping to be ringside for Golovkin’s clash with Daniel Jacobs, for the WBA Super, WBC, IBO and IBF middleweight world titles, at Madison Square Garden in New York the week before on March 18.

Further details will be revealed in due course.