Monday 9 May 2016 10:56, UK
Martin Murray warmed up for his super-middleweight showdown with George Groves by blasting Cedric Spera away in two rounds.
The St Helens star showed he is ready and willing to take on his super-middleweight rival on the Anthony Joshua undercard on June 25, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Murray, who has fallen short in four world title attempts - three at middleweight - made it five wins out of five up at 168lbs and this time had the chance to show Groves his skills are just as sharp and his power might possibly be stronger now he is up a weight.
"I've got that big fight in England that I've always wanted," Murray told Sky Sports. "Groves is world class but I needed that and it'll stand me in good stead for the Groves fight.
"I want these big fights. If a fight came up abroad I'd take it but I've got a great team behind me, my wife and my family and with this support, I know I can become world champion. It'll take a lot to stop me.
"I've always been the underdog going abroad fighting world champions. The Groves fight is great over here. I'm just thankful and I'm just happy to be fighting. I can't wait for it."
Murray was clearly out to send out a warning to Groves from the Manchester Arena, with a nasty left hook going low early on, leaving Spera wincing and the referee warning him.
But the left was clearly going to lead the way to victory and familiar body shots meant he was always on the offensive. With the chance of a cut or an injury ruining his big fight next month, Murray was in no mood to take any risks, however.
The finish came in the second as the left put Spera down and even though he made it back up, he found himself trapped on the ropes.
The Groves fight is great over here. I'm just thankful and I'm just happy to be fighting. I can't wait for it.
Murray did not close in too quickly as he had done in spurts in the first, but went to the body again before a perfect right cross had Spera struggling to stay on his feet, in serious trouble.
It was no surprise to see the referee step in and bring it to an end and more importantly, start the clock ticking down until the biggest British super-middleweight showdown for some time.
