Manchester's British lightweight champion has been out of the ring for so long, he admits he has been forced to borrow money just to pay his bills.
"I'm not getting any younger and I need to make money," said Murray.
"I'm a professional boxer. It's a full-time job. When I'm not fighting, I'm not earning money."
It is a telling insight into the less glamorous side of boxing. Murray may have been dubbed the next Ricky Hatton, but he is a million miles away from being in the Hitman's league when it comes to earning potential.
While Hatton amassed a fortune of more than £40m thanks to mega-fights with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, Murray is still waiting to hit the big time despite establishing himself as the No1 British lightweight.
It is seven months since his last fight - a stunning British title victory against Jon Thaxton.
At that stage the 25-year-old appeared to have the world at his feet as the No1 contender for Anthony Mezaache's European title, which would then set him up for a shot at WBO champion, Michael Katsidis.
But since then he's seen three title shots postponed after Mezaache vacated the belt and then Andrei Kudriatsev pulled out of a bout for the vacant crown.
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Lee McAllister was then installed as his opponent, only to pull out with injury, setting up Friday's clash with Gary Buckland in Widnes.
Murray's inactivity has seen Kevin Mitchell usurp him as the lightweight on everyone's lips - himself earning a shot at Katsidis - while just paying the bills has become a issue for the Levenshulme star.
"I've been out for seven months - anyone would struggle if they weren't earning money for that length of time," he said.
"You have to borrow money to pay things like rent. The next time I fight, the money will have to go to paying people back."
It has been a frustrating chapter for Murray, who is just waiting for his career to explode.
A record of 16 knockouts in his 28 undefeated fights is evidence enough of his potential as a global star.
That was never more evident than with his stunning fourth- round stoppage of former European champion Thaxton in October.
"I established myself as the best in Britain with the way I beat Thaxton and I thought I'd be fighting for the European title after that," he said.
"In that time Kevin Mitchell has come up from super- featherweight, beaten Breidis Prescott and then Ignacio Mendoza who I beat five years ago.
"Now he's leap-frogged me to fight Katsidis. There's nothing I can do about it, but it is very frustrating because I'm the kind of fighter who likes to stay active."
If Murray needs evidence of how fortunes can change, he need only look to Mitchell, who admitted he needed promoter Frank Warren's help to pay his mortgage while recovering from a hand injury.
He is now on the verge of becoming world champion which could lead to a mega-fight with WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan.
Before that Murray must overcome Buckland for the vacant European belt, in a fight that will also see his British title on the line.
Victory would see him win the Lonsdale belt, which is worth around £20,000, outright. But a 29th win could lead to far greater riches for Murray, who must defend the European crown to Kudriatsev within 90 days.
Beyond that is the potential clash with Mitchell, which could take place as soon as December at either London's O2 Arena or the MEN.
How do you see the future developing for Murray? Have your say.
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I think one of the reasons Ricky Hatton was so successful was because his dad Ray 'looked after him' so he never had to get a job and could focus all his efforts on the boxing. Few young pro's have this luxury. Despite Ricky's 'rags to riches' and council estate stories, Ray has always been a successful businessman.
Its disappointing that someone like John Murray has almost got to the pinnacle of his profession but is still in debt. I bet his promotor doesn't have any debt worries!!
When I hear rags to riches council estate stories, I just switch off and get embarrassed for the individual/s quoting this as something special or unique, even unheard of...Lets have it right, its a sport of the estates, slums, inner Cities etc all around the world - If you lived on an estate and became a classical composer, then that would be a story or if you were the Lord of Cheshire (or something else posh) and became a rough arse boxer, then that woulod be a story: But really, do we need our intelligence insulting by PR pieces that tell us its an amazing story that a kid from a rough council estate has become a boxer?
I really want John to do well, his story is a good, honest, sincere one and I know he's not had the smoothest of rides outside the ring.
His promoter is Carl Froch mad, what about John or Tyson?
HoS - if his promoter is Froch mad, it shows his abilities as a promoter. He had the (then) world champion fighting in the middle of nowhere, away from home, on an obscure channel nobody has heard of!
Hardly the work of Don King!
John Murray, Darren Barker, Tyson Fury, John O'Donnell et al would be well served seeing what Warren, Maloney, or even Hatton can offer.
Ian Brown - He is froch mad, who else does he keep busy with meaningful fights? agreed he's poor at it, thats my point???