MARTIN Murray has a potential world title fight lined up just two months after the defence of his interim middleweight belt against Aussie Garth Wood, says his promoter Ricky Hatton.

Speaking at a Langtree Park press conference announcing Martin’s trip Down Under to battle Wood in December, Hatton said: “We are only a matter of weeks in announcing Martin’s next fight which will probably be around February when we get another world title shot.

"His third one and I am sure it will be third time lucky.

“If we get that third title shot I think that will be the date for him to get into the United States. Once he has that world championship around his waist the visa problems will be made a lot easier for us and Martin will get the recognition that he deserves.”

It is no doubt going to be a subject of speculation – with WBA champion Gennady Golovkin destroying Curtis Stevens in Madison Square Garden last week and scheduled to fight again in Monte Carlo on February 1.

Darren Barker, who won the IBF title in August, faces a defence against Felix Sturm in Stuttgart in early December.

A showdown with Barker would be a home-soil Battle of Britain that Murray has craved – especially if there was a world belt at stake.

But both fighters have big fights to win before going further down that route.

Murray’s test is 12,000 miles away against former rugby league player Garth Wood in his own Sydney backyard on December 11.

Hatton said: “Wood had a KO over Anthony Mundine, who is probably the biggest name in Australian boxing and he’s coming off two knock out wins so it’s going to be a very tough fight.

“He’s a decent puncher but when you look at Martin’s last performance against Sergio Martinez, the number one middleweight in the world, Martin has no fear of going anywhere or fighting anyone.

“Martin has no fear of boxing abroad as in his last two fights, back to back world titles and going to Germany against Felix Sturm and got a draw and the Sergio Martinez fight which I thought was a shambolic decision.

“It has been a frustrating few months but 2014 is going to be Martin’s year.

“He starts in December against Garth Wood, the defence of the Interim title and when he fights for that world title at the start of next year, which we are a matter of weeks from doing the deal; Martin’s career will kick on from there.

“He’s fearless. There are lots of great opportunities out there. If we can get the world title title match we can re-visit the Darren Barker match which would be fantastic for British boxing.

“This is the best middleweight in the country and next year people are going to realise that.”

“The fights in Las Vegas and Madison Square Garden are just a stone’s throw away for Martin, but it all starts with Garth Wood.”