QUEBEC | Christian Mbilli's opponent, Rohan Murdock, has every reason in the world to want to win what he believes is the most important fight of his career.
The 31-year-old Australian obviously wants to get his hands on the WBC Continental Americas super middleweight belt held by the new Canadian, but there is still more up for grabs for him.
“I just had a little girl who is five months old, which motivates me even more. A victory would allow me to protect my family,” he admits.
It's a story we often hear in the world of martial arts, where a single duel can completely change a pugilist's life.
Gigantic
Murdock is originally from Gold Coast, a city known for its beautiful beaches and located an hour south of Brisbane. He once again underlines the importance of this fight.
“It's huge for me, it's the biggest fight of my career and I've fought over 120 [amateurs et professionnels] and I feel like all these struggles are leading me to this.”
He also believes a win could open doors for him in the near future.
“If I win, I should be ranked No. 1 in several associations and that would open the doors to other fights.”
Difficult
The fact is that Murdock (27-2-0, 19 KOs) and his family made sacrifices so that he could enter the arena against Mbilli (25-0-0, 21 KOs) on Saturday night at the Videotron Center.
“I sacrificed my whole life for this fight. I'm estranged from my daughter and she's growing up so fast. I miss all these moments. I have been investing and sacrificing for 21 years.
“We see each other on Facetime, which is definitely not the same, but she hears my voice and recognizes me.”
After missing the end of the year vacation because he finished his training camp, he is looking forward to enjoying a little time off with his family.
“I can't wait to be home and treat myself to a vacation in a beautiful place. I also hope to have a belt to hang around the house,” he says with a laugh.
Loopholes
Rohan Murdock doesn't want to reveal too much about his game plan but believes he can exploit Mbilli's weaknesses.
“He is a very good fighter, but he is not perfect. We want to uncover what he doesn't do well.
“I think defensively he leaves himself exposed at times. “He is very attack-oriented, which is good because he has the physical condition for it.”
For his part, Murdock believes he's in the best shape of his life.
“I want to offer the best version of myself. I feel at my best like never before.”
Hostile crowd
Rohan Murdock doesn't need to take a picture, he knows that the 10,000 spectators on Saturday will be against him.
He also experienced it when he faced Zach Parker in Manchester, England in 2020.
“When I got in the ring in England the whole crowd was booing me, but that doesn't affect me so much because once I'm in the arena I concentrate on what I have to do and block out the noise. which is easy for me.
“The hardest part about fighting overseas is maintaining a routine, especially when it comes to sleeping.”