British middleweight Martin Murray has admitted that he must beat Domenico Spada on October 25 if he is to keep his world title dream alive.

Murray has twice missed out in world title bouts against Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez, and the St Helens man believes that he will have to deal with the Italian's "awkward" style if he is to emerge with the victory in Monte Carlo.

At the pre-fight press conference earlier on Wednesday, the 32-year-old said: "We tried to get a number of fighters over to Monte Carlo to fight me but there was only Spada who accepted the offer.

"I need to beat him to keep my dream alive. He's very awkward, quite crude in the way that he fights and he comes to win so I'm not expecting an easy fight."

Victory for Murray could earn himself a shot at IBF champion Gennady Golovkin during the early stages of 2015.