MARTIN Murray showed guts and character in spades, and no little skill, in his world title challenge against Gennady Golovkin before finally being stopped in round 11, writes Mike Critchley.

Many a weaker opponent would have stayed down and capitulated after taking two fearful body shots in the fourth round, but the 32-year-old Warrington fighter is made of sterner stuff and did not know the meaning of giving up.

The unbeaten WBA, IBO middleweight and WBC Interim champion Golovkin – described as the scariest fighter in boxing since Mike Tyson - had been built up as invincible having won 28 of his previous 31 fights by knockout.

Murray, who came into his third world title with one defeat from his previous 31 professional bouts, came to the Salle des Étoiles concert hall “expecting a war” but determined not to be overawed.

And Murray, who hails from St Helens but lives in Warrington, looked cool as a cucumber as he entered the ring to Whitesnake, sporting the logos of his hometown Saints and the Steve Prescott Foundation on his robe.

Murray made a solid start landing with some good right hands as both fighters cautiously worked their way through the opening two rounds.

As we got into round three Golovkin’s accurate punching prowess began to show and he got through a couple of times with the right.

Although those solid connections initially produced a shrug of the shoulders from the St Helens fighter – the Kazakh powerhouse finished with a flourish with a right-left combination causing the challenger to wobble.

The bell ringing came at a good time for Murray, who needed a minute but Golovkin was merciless in round four, wearing him down with his accuracy, particularly with his body shots on the ropes.

It was a straight right to the body which saw Murray recoil and drop to his knee, and then moments later he was down again with another body shot doing the damage. Lesser opponents would have been counting the loser’s pay cheque – but Murray dug in.

Although his face was becoming a bloody mess – and the judges had him well down on the scorecard - Murray refused to crumple up into a ball and was encouraged by his trainer telling the referee that his man was “back in the fight”.

And he took the fight to GGG, looking for a chink in the apparently invincible champion’s armour. Alas three fine combinations seemed to no effect – despite connecting.

Murray also had the devil’s own job in defending against the brutal accuracy of Golovkin. Although the champion again took this round, it was probably a big round for Murray to lay down a marker that he was still in the fight.

The seventh saw a couple of powerful right hand shots from Golovkin. But undeterred Murray’s strong jab propelled the champ into the centre of the ring and set him up for some good follow ups.

Murray’s biggest problem was the champion’s uncanny knack of being able to force him back on to the ropes – and there he had to take plenty of punishment to head and body.

And in the eighth a left hook hurt Murray and moments later he was forced to the floor, although this was not classed as a knock down.

Although his eye was marked and nose streaming, Murray stood tall and fought back again against a fighter producing his full armoury of weapons, with his brutal body shots, powerful jabs and an unorthodox hook to the top of the head.

It was taking a super human effort from Murray to stay in the fight – and given he was behind in points he knew he needed a stoppage, Murray produced some excellent shots, particularly his short right hand, which would have had lesser mortals in all kinds of trouble, but the steely-jawed Kazakh fighter did not flinch.

Two big left hooks and a strong right follow up from Murray again showed spirit and no little class, but GGG must have a face of stone. The champion was soon back on the front foot and menacing him again.

And again at the end of round the champ threw a few rights which ended up flooring challenger Murray. The St Helens man took a count but then was more or less saved by the bell.

As a result of the way that round finished the ref was keeping a keen eye on proceedings – and the champ had sensed blood.

Fighters on a run like Golovkin pride themselves in their finishing prowess – and he scented the blood and opportunity to extend his record to 17 straight stoppages.

Less than a minute into round 11 Golovkin launched two devastating rights – the second which sent Murray’s head flying back.

Although the referee was straight in and Murray’s third title challenge was over he can be proud of the way he bravely battled and dug in, in the face of such a fearsome battery.