Martin Murray (right) says he’s tired of looking at WBA middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin, who he challenges on Saturday in Monte Carlo. Photo by Will Hart / HBO

Two-time world title challenger Martin Murray has left no stone unturned during a torturous training regime which has readied him for the biggest fight of his life against WBA middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin on Saturday in Monte Carlo.

The British star has even suffered the mental anguish of being away from his family for the final five weeks of training camp and has encountered dark moments during his preparation.

“Being away from my family has absolutely killed me,” said Murray, in a press release from British promoter Mick Hennessey, who will work in association with Golden Gloves Promotions CEO, Rodney Berman, on this event.

“I can look back now and think, well, at least it’s nearly done, but, at the time, it was hell. I was lonely, I was down. But it needed to be done. I’ve got no regrets whatsoever. If I had to go back and do it all again, I would. It’s been tough but worthwhile.”

Despite being as game as they come in a brutal profession, Murray (29-1-1, 12 knockouts) is a devout family man who has three children, two girls and a boy.

“I’m heavily involved in my kids’ lives and I know I’ve been missing a lot of things,” said the challenger. “I’m a very hands-on dad, so every day I spend away from them eats me up inside. But I can make up for it on Monday when I see them and bring home that world title.”

So the moment approaches and Murray, THE RING’s No. 6-rated middleweight, promises to put mutual respect to one side and give the mighty Golovkin the fight of his life.

“When we have a press conference I’m professional and courteous,” he said. “But, come fight night, that’s not going to stop me wanting to rip his head off. He’ll be the same way. We’ll shake hands and be perfectly nice to each other, but that goes out of the window on Saturday. He wants to take something from me and I want to hurt him.

“Some of Golovkin’s opponents might give him too much respect, and they might be all smiles and handshakes at the press conference, but that’s just stupid. They obviously didn’t grow up where I grew up. I respect his ability as a fighter, and I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but this is a fight and I can be just as nasty as anybody when I have to be.”

Murray, a creature of habit, has also seen much more of Golovkin than one would imagine because a camp member adorned a crucial piece of gym equipment with the defending champion’s mugshot.

“A picture of Golovkin was put on the heavy bag on day one and it was still there when I left for Monte Carlo on Friday,” said the 32-year-old. “It wasn’t done for publicity. It’s something we’ve always done. No matter who I’ve fought, there has always been a picture of them on a bag or on the wall. It’s just good to have their face in the gym. It makes you constantly aware of what is to come.

“To be honest, I’m sick of the sight of Golovkin now. I’ve seen him every single day.”

Gennady Golovkin versus Martin Murray will be shown live on both HBO World Championship Boxing in the US and on Channel 5 in the UK.