Murrays next opponent prepared by Anthony Mundine

Martin Murray looks to be in for a tough challenge Friday week as he takes on Aussie Peter Mitrevski Jr for the vacant Commonwealth middleweight strap at the Bolton Arena.

Unbeaten Murray (19-0) hopes to pick up his first title other than winning the middleweight Prizefighter trophy in 2008. During this tournament Murray showed he has a decent punch and a good chin when he beat hard hitting Cello Renda in the final.

Mitrevski Jr, 30, is not short of confidence and has spent the last two months locked away in Sydney sparring with Australia’s number one fighter, Anthony Mundine.

Mitrevski Jr (23-6-1) said: “My training has been going exceptionally well. I’ve had plenty of sparring with Anthony Mundine so I am well prepared.

“I have no problems going to England and I just wish the football season was on because I want to see a Premier League game live.

“If I win this and impress I am sure Hatton Promotions will want me back again and I can persuade Ricky Hatton to take me to a Manchester City match although I doubt he’ll be my friend if I beat his fighter.”

Mitrevski Jr has only fought once outside Australia, back in December 2006 when he ventured to Germany and was stopped in eight rounds by current IBF world champion, Sebastian Sylvester.

He added: “I have watched lots of Murray’s fights and he is a very skilful fighter with a good jab and he goes well to the body.

“However, he is untested and has never been more than eight rounds. I am going to take him into deep water and see whether he sinks or swims.”

Top of the bill is Matthew Hatton risking his European welterweight crown against Ukraine’s Yuri Nuzhnenko.

The bill is being televised on Sky Sports 1 at 22.00 Friday July 16th.