They say Golovkin is the sort of fighter who moves men when he as much as touches them and his jab is as good as anyone's, a weapon in its own right. Murray on the back foot but nothing clean so far from Golovkin, except for a couple of sharp jabs that pierce the Murray guard. Golovkin's round, but Murray looked assured on the back foot.

BBC scorecard: 10-9

Ron Lewis, Times reporter in Monte Carlo:, external ‏This place is supposed to hold 900 people. Looks like 3,000 in here now.

EPSN boxing writer Dan Rafael:, external Buffer speaks - let's gets ready to rumble!

It's Michael Buffer doing the honours in Monte Carlo, so when I say they're getting ready to rumble, I mean that quite literally. We'll have action in a couple of minutes...

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Smith at ringside: "I started off OK. But he was better tonight than before. I came on late, after having had a good telling off in the corner. But his body shots took it out of me. His defence is quality and he's so hard. He's like a brick wall.

"I felt I've held my own against a quality world champion. I believe I beat him the first time but he did beat me tonight. It's just one of those things. But I did leave it all in there tonight, and I'm going home with no regrets. He did the job tonight."

Steve Bunce
5 live Boxing, BBC Radio 5 live

"Martin Murray is scathing and dismissive of previous opponents of Golovkin. He's been training away from home for six weeks at altitude in South Africa. He's got a game-plan, and he'll go for it. He won't float through the fight, never coming close to winning a round.

"Murray really is a throwback fighter - he will not be able to live with himself if he doesn't give it his all. And he's not afraid."

Martin Murray is already in the ring in Monte Carlo and here comes GGG. A small but vocal contingent of Kazakhstani fans in the Salle des Etoiles, which seems to be more of a ballroom set-up than an arena. Murray has got his own fans here as well, and they're making a racket.

Mike Costello
5 live Boxing, BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

"Fight fans, writers and commentators talk at the moment of echoes of Mike Tyson when they discuss this remarkable middleweight from Kazakhstan, Gennady Golovkin. Those echoes are of his record, which is 28 inside-the-distance wins from 31, unbeaten, and a streak of 18 consecutive inside-the-distance wins.

"Martin Murray has had two previous attempts at winning a world title. Outside of Murray's own camp, very few people are giving him any chance at all."

Predictions and insight from some of the nation's best boxing writers:

"If Murray returns from Monaco with his dignity intact, he should put it on a par with getting a lift back from Mars." Kevin Mitchell, Guardian, external

"Win and the qualified youth worker from St Helens, who says he will transform the lives of young people when he retires, will make a massive name for himself given the awe with which the Kazakh is held in boxing circles." Gareth A Davies, Daily Telegraph, external

"This fella Golovkin is a one-off. If he keeps going the way he is, he might just finish as the greatest middleweight in history. I'd love to see Murray take him the distance in Monaco but suspect that the jackpot is out of his reach." Barry McGuigan, Daily Mirror, external

"The chandeliers of this casino ballroom will glitter down on either Gennady Golovkin hammering out his latest concussive triumph… or Martin Murray springing one of boxing's bigger surprises." Jeff Powell, Daily Mail, external

"Murray's plan will be based around showing Golovkin angles and movement and forcing him backwards. However, getting the Kazakh out of his stride is something many have tried and none has managed." Ron Lewis, Times, external

Martin Murray on Channel 5: "Golovkin is a great fighter and everyone knows that. I have never once badmouthed him. But I've just got a feeling, and I've had it for a long time now, that I'm going to be the man to beat him.

"I took myself away from my family, which has absolutely killed me, and have trained in ways I never have before. Those are the things you have to do, and I've given myself every possible chance and opportunity to win this fight."

Image source, Getty Images

All three judges give it to Abraham and this time they all got it pretty much spot on, after some ludicrous scoring in their first fight last year. Righto, time to head to Monte Carlo, where St Helens's Martin Murray is about to challenge the destructive Gennady Golovkin, the WBA middleweight champion.

Tremendous stuff from Smith, that was such a courageous effort against a very different Arthur Abraham from last time. The champion looked like a tank in there and he performed like one. We've given it to Abraham by five points, but I suspect the judges in Berlin might see it even wider...

Huge ovation for both fighters at the start of the 12th and final round, it's been a fine effort from the challenger and an even finer one from the champion. A short break for a bit of mopping up in the centre of the ring before the boys go back to work. Abraham, after that break in the 11th, wants to finish this now but Smith is determined to make it to the final bell. Still wheeling away with body shots and Abraham not really throwing much back. Abraham jags Smith's head back with a couple of wicked shots towards the end and that was probably the champion's round.

BBC scorecard: 117-112

Abraham can just take the hand-brake off and roll towards the final bell now, he's done enough. Smith doing most of the work and Abraham happy to soak it up with that high guard of his. A couple of body shots from Smith but Abraham is unmoved. That's Smith's round, but it's far too little, far too late, and Abraham knows it.

BBC scorecard: 107-103

Image source, Getty Images

Courageous in the extreme from Smith but as Abraham takes a break, Smith's shots are like stones ricocheting off a stationary tank. Smith wobbled by a big right hand, more of a loss of balance than anything else, and that was another round to the champion. It's getting wide out there...

BBC scorecard: 98-93

Paul Smith's trainer Joe Gallagher in the corner: "Three rounds left, Paul. Nine minutes. Be smart with your work, don't be reckless, get back to your jab and shoot at the body. You'll never get another chance, man."

Highly efficient performance from the home fighter so far and that's a cute jab that finds the tip of Smith's chin. Big right from Abraham, Smith did well to stand up to that, and the challenger is being slowly chiselled away now, and he hasn't got the necessary tools to do much damage to Abraham. Gallagher tells Smith he's two rounds down, and that he needs the last three...

BBC scorecard: 88-84

Image source, Getty Images

Abraham pecking away at Smith with his jab, keeping Smith at range. Crunching body shot from Smith but Abraham comes trundling forward regardless. Lovely right from Abraham backs Smith up, and another. Another head assault from Abraham on the bell, this fight going in one direction now.

BBC scorecard: 78-75

Amir Khan, former two-time world champion at light-welterweight:, external Watching Paul Smith. Fight's very close. Abraham seems to be slowing down with those body shots from Paul. Keep those body shot going in!

"You go out there and set about him," says trainer Joe Gallagher as Smith rises from his stool, and he gets through with another sharp left hook 30 seconds in. Smith on the ropes again but he stands up to some crunching blows, not for the first time, although one or two did get through. Great finish to the round, with Abraham teeing off on Smith on the ropes and Smith coming back with some spiteful body shots. Good fight, this...

BBC scorecard: 68-66

Image source, Reuters

Paul Smith's trainer Joe Gallagher in the corner: "Get in there, let's see the old Paul Smith. Get about him!"