MARTIN Murray’s challenge for Billy Joe Saunders’ World Middleweight title has been scuppered for a second time.

The pair were due to fight at London’s O2 in the spring but the WBO champion pulled out with a hand injury.

Now Saunders has called off the bout, re-arranged for June 23, this time citing a hamstring injury.

It is a huge blow for 35-year-old Woolston resident Murray seeking to win a world crown after being cruelly denied twice in his four challenges.

He has now twice been away to training camps abroad, only to have the rug pulled from under his feet weeks before the fight.

In a video he released on Sunday, Murray said: “The fight is off with Billy Joe Saunders.

“First it was his hand and now it is his hamstring.

“This is the second time I have taken myself away from my family and got my body in this condition, ready to fight him, to get told last minute it is cancelled.

“I am obviously gutted but there is nothing I can do.

“I just want to apologise to everyone who has bought tickets, booked hotels and trains - and just say thank you for your continued support in believing in me.

“The management team are working on an alternative, so hopefully I will have a new date in the next couple of weeks.”

Saunders has been linked with a big fight in the autumn with Gennady Golovkin.

But that will add to the frustration for Murray, who has now not fought since September 2017.