Martin Murray handles Spada, Golovkin next in February 2015

Martin Murray got past an awkward and ugly opponent today in Monaco, beating Italian veteran Domenico Spada via weird technical decision after seven rounds (well, seven rounds were scored), winning on reported scores of 69-67, 67-66, and 68-63.

The fight was stopped by the referee and doctor after inspecting what did not seem like a dangerous cut for Spada (39-6, 19 KO). Spada, 34, protested to everyone he could, including to Murray (29-1-1, 12 KO) after the scores were read and the decision announced. Murray ignored it, and it is now known that he'll be facing Gennady Golovkin on February 21 in Monte Carlo.

Unlike previous Golovkin trips to the city for vacation fights, HBO will reportedly televise this one, as Golovkin is a true rising star on the network, and Murray is a legitimate contender, unlike past Monaco foes Nobuhiro Ishida and Osumanu Adama.

But while Murray, 32, is certainly deserving of a top 10 ranking middleweight, and while he gave Sergio Martinez and Felix Sturm great fights in the past, few will likely expect him to give Golovkin any real trouble. It just seems as though Golovkin is on another level with his strength, punching power, and skills these days. He's blown out guys who can box like Daniel Geale, and guys who are known to be durable like Marco Antonio Rubio. Murray is a big middleweight who takes a good shot, no question, but do you think he troubles Golovkin at all?