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Murray still waiting on Chavez Jr

Martin Murray suffered a controversial loss to Sergio Martinez in April © AP

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Martin Murray says he has not heard any developments on a potential bout with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, but insists he wants to be involved in big fights as he targets a rise to become a world champion.

Chavez Jr is due to fight in Mexico City on August 3 and, while Murray has been heavily tipped to make the trip, the St Helens middleweight confirmed a deal has not yet been agreed.

"As far as I'm aware, no," Murray told ESPN when asked if the fight was any closer to being made. "I don't think the Chavez team has contacted my management team, I don't know how far they are ahead or whether they've got to that stage yet.

"Of course, I want to be involved in big fights. Me and my team have earned the right to be in big fights now. We eventually want to become world champion and want to do whatever it takes to get there."

Earlier this year, Chavez Jr was handed a $900,000 fine and a retroactive nine-month suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after testing positive for marijuana following his loss to WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez last year.

And with the Mexican having already been previously suspended when testing positive for another banned substance in 2009, Murray insists sanctioned drug tests would have to be organised if the pair were to meet.

"I'm a firm believer in a level playing field and that's how it should be," Murray said. "I think it should be the boxing organisations that should be pushing for it. To be honest, I'd like to think that's in his past now and he's stepped forward in the right way."

In his last bout on April 27, Murray suffered his first defeat in 27 professional fights when alo losing to Martinez by a controversial points decision in Buenos Aires.

Murray had Martinez on the canvas in the eighth round, and his impressive performance in Argentina prompted Chavez Jr to take note. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum stated that after seeing Murray in action, Chavez Jr stated that he wanted to face the toughest opponents, starting with the Lancashire fighter.

"It's good that Chavez said that," Murray said. "It's good that people are watching me and want to fight me. Like I said, I'm just after helping me achieve a position where I'm involved in big fights."

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