MARTIN Murray says he is looking forward to producing a “career-defining performance” against Gennady Golovkin in Monte Carlo tonight.

Amid a raucous atmosphere with Murray’s Barmy Army supporters in full voice, WBA and IBO middleweight champion and WBC Interim champion Gennady Golovkin and official challenger Murray both scaled inside the limit at the official weigh-in at Monte Carlo Casino yesterday, Friday.

With all the preparation done, including a six-week high altitude training camp in South Africa before flying into Monaco on Wednesday, Murray’s third shot at a world title now comes down to what happens inside the ropes live on Channel 5 tonight from 10pm.

The 32-year-old father-of-three, who hails from St Helens but married into a Warrington family and now lives in Paddington, said: “I’ve had a brilliant camp in South Africa at high altitude. I’ve never eaten as good. I’ve never been as healthy and comfy in making the weight.

“I’ve always wanted the big fights, the best in the world. If I’m going to become a world champion, why not the man everyone’s raving about.

“I’ve accepted there is going to be a lot of pain involved in this. I’m expecting I’m going to be hit the hardest I have ever been hit. So if I go in there and he hits less than that, it’s going to be a bonus.

“I have lots of fight plans. I’m very good at judging people and working fights in my favour. So I’m looking forward to it now and seeing the type of performance I put in.”

The official weights for the WBA Super World middleweight, interim WBC World middleweight and IBO middleweight championship bout were:

Gennady Golovkin 72,07kg (158.9 lbs)

Martin Murray 72,52kg (159.9 lbs)

Murray has twice gone close to world titles, drawing with Felix Sturm in Germany in December 2011 and then controversially losing a points decision against Sergio Martinez in 2013 despite dropping the Argentine in the eighth round.

But this is arguably the toughest of the lot against unbeaten Kazakh fighter Golovkin, who boasts a 90 per cent knockout ratio from 31 professional bouts.

Golovkin has a reputation as being the hardest hitting pound-for-pound fighter and in his last bout he floored Marco Antonio Rubio having previously rocked Australian Daniel Geale.

Murray clearly knows what he is up against but is not fazed by the reputation of the champion nor will he be discouraged by the pundits who are scornful of his chances.

“I will raise my game, rise to the occasion and I’m looking forward to putting in a career-defining performance because that’s what’s going to be needed to beat Golovkin and I really do feel that I can win,” he said.