MARTIN Murray won't be giving Sladan Janjanin the opportunity to extend his knockout record past 21.

The experienced St Helens middleweight takes on the Bosnian puncher on Friday night at the Liverpool Olympia, and is excited to be back in the ring.

And having been in the ring with the likes of elite boxers Gennady Golovkin, Sergio Martinez and George Groves - he not going into it in awe of his opponent's knockout record.

Murray said: “My opponent can punch a bit but he hasn’t really fought anybody. It’s fine knocking people out but he looks wild and I won’t be putting my chin out for him.

“He’s fighting somebody who is on a different level to him so I plan on going in there and showing that. This is the first year I’ve had in boxing with no expectations and I’m excited for this fight.”

Murray's trainer Jamie Moore has seen a relaxed fighter preparing for this bout.

He said: “Martin definitely should have won a world title by now and I don’t think anybody disputes that. He’s got a lot of experience but he’s still relatively fresh.

“That experience is key at the top level, and if we get another opportunity he will grab it with both hands. He’s doing this for the pure enjoyment at the moment and it means he can relax more and perform better."