Rohan Murdock: “I really want to challenge myself”

AN active and healthy Rohan Murdock is seen by many as the best in his division.

Having overcome a series of untimely injuries and promotional uncertainty, the once-beaten Queenslander is on the cusp of making a legitimate run at a super middleweight championship.

The fifth-rated super middleweight by the WBO, Murdock (23-1, 17 KOs) will face the WBO #11 rated Rolando Mansilla (14-5-1, 6 KOs) for a chance to inch closer to titleholder Gilberto Ramirez.

Looking back on his 2018 campaign so far, Murdock is content with his progression.

“It’s been a great year and I will have had three fights,” Murdock told Aus-Boxing.

“I got to go to America earlier this year, which was a good experience, and it was great to see how things work over there. I got to sign with DDP Sports, which was huge for me.”

“They have given me a pathway now with an opportunity to have regular fights. It’s really been a good year and I’m looking forward to finishing it off this weekend with a really good win.”

Despite holding a lofty world rating, the 26-year-old lacks a win over a marquee name that is recognised at world level.

This is something that Murdock recognises, citing the need to take harder fights against credible opposition, starting with Mansilla in a move backed by new promoter DDP Sports.

“I really want to start stepping up the opposition, big time,” he explained.

“I’ve never really had anyone willing to invest in quality opponents, which has always been an issue. Now I feel we have that I really want to step it up.”

“In America I learnt it’s such a really high level. You can really see the difference between them and Australian boxers.”

“You really need to step it up in the gym, to see it live was a great experience. To see how they approach the sport has pushed me more and more.”

“With this opponent – he is world ranked – all I want to fight is world ranked opposition. I think it’s an exciting fight as he has power in both hands, that knockout power.”

With a rise in competition comes an assumed increase in adversity, something that Murdock has lacked in recent fights.

However, Murdock plans to make light work of the Argentine, forming part of his plan to signal world level ambitions on Saturday night.

“I really just want to go out there and dominate,” he said.

“I just want to show that I belong with these top guys and that I can get these top guys out of there, as well and move on to bigger fights.”

“It should be a good test for me as I’ve never fought a world rated fighter before. I really hope to get a big shot overseas after beating a couple more world ranked guys.”

“I feel like I’m at that time in my career now, where I’m ready to fight pretty much any of these guys, I know I haven’t yet fought any of the top ranked guys as yet.”

Citing sparring as a measuring tool, Murdock believes he’s more than capable of competing at the highest level.

“In sparring I feel I’m pretty much at that level and feel like I’m ready now,” he concluded.

“Fighting a ranked guy this week is really what I’ve wanted for the last couple of years. Hopefully I’m able to continue to step my opposition, that’s what I really want.”

“I really want to challenge myself. If I got offered a world title shot, I’d happily take it.”