WARRINGTON'S two-time world middleweight contender Martin Murray knows the significance of a win this weekend.

This Saturday’s bout, the second of three arranged for Monte Carlo, is a massively important one if he is to make February’s trip to the principality a world title challenge.

Murray tackles Domenico Spada and needs to put in an impressive shift to see off the experienced Italian – and get himself in line for a shot at Gennady Golovkin’s WBA Super World and IBO belts.

The Warrington-based fighter, who has been in a 10-week camp to get primed for Spada, said: “My preparation for this fight has gone really well; the nutrition, the strength and conditioning.

"I'm really looking forward to showing I'm one of the best middleweights in the world.

“I've tried to get quite a few top names over to Monte Carlo to fight me but it was only Spada who accepted it so he's the man standing in my way."

He has plenty to remain focused for, ranked number one contender by the WBC and three by the IBF, Murray has been promised a world title bout in February if he despatches the 44-fight Italian battler, who boasts 19 knockouts in his 39 wins.

Spada, who has fought the likes of Marco Antonio Rubio, Darren Barker and Sebastian Zbik, has won seven of his last eight and is determined to re-enter the title picture by upsetting the man who hails from St Helens.

Murray said: “He’s very experienced, you can’t buy that.

“He’ll fight anyone at any time. What you see is what you get with Spada. He hasn’t got a nice style, but he’s game and comes to win.

“I'm in fight mode now, I'm ready."

Saturday's event will be broadcast around the world, including Channel 5 in Britain, giving Murray the sort of exposure that he has lacked so far.

“I'm confident going into every fight," he said.

"We know that round the clock we work hard and we've got the capabilities to beat everyone in middlweight. All I've got to do is keep winning and my opportunity for a world title fight will come up.”

All the signs point to Murray challenging unbeaten German-based Kazahstan fighter Golovkin, who boasts 28 knock outs in is 31 bouts to date.

But first thing's first – and Murray’s sole focus is seeing off Spada.