DEFEAT is not an option for the South African duo of Hekkie Budler and Ryno Liebenberg, as well as Englishman Martin Murray, who are all on the verge of super fights.

The trio will share the boxing ring at Sales des etoiles in Monte Carlo tomorrow night.

Budler will put his WBA and IBO strawweight belts on the line against China's Xiong Zhao Zhong.

Liebenberg faces Colombian Eleider Alvarez and Murray goes up against Italy's Domenico Spade.

Budler, Liebenberg and Murray are promoted by Johannesburg-based Rodney Berman, who has dangled a carrot in front of his charges - win their fights and the world could become their oyster.

Berman intends to match Budler against WBC champion Oswaldo Novoa in a unification bout in South Africa.

Liebenberg, rated No4 by the WBC, could challenge world light-heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson of Canada, while victory for Murray, who is also rated No4 by the WBC, will put him in a favorable position to challenge hard-punching world middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.