Arthur jumps weight for comeback

[The_budweiser]

Former WBO champion Alex Arthur, from Edinburgh, is making a temporary step up to light-welterweight to fight Nigel Wright in Newcastle on 5 December.

 

The 31-year-old lost his WBO super-featherweight title to Nicky Cook last year but stopped Mohammed Benbiou in his comeback in June at lightweight.

 

"Nigel is the former British light-welterweight champion," said Arthur.

 

"It's a big jump but it's one I believe I can make. I wouldn't take the fight if I didn't think I could win."

 

Arthur has had a series of health problems in recent years. After the bout against Cook he was laid low with a virus but shrugged that off to take on French-Algerian Benbiou in Glasgow in the summer.

 

That was Arthur's first bout at lightweight and he had his opponent on the canvas three times in under 100 seconds.

 

The Scot insists he would rather have won quickly than have gone the distance to test himself after moving up from super-featherweight.

 

"It's a painful thing to do, so the quicker the better," he told BBC Scotland.

 

But despite the relief at winning his comeback, Arthur still felt that his health was not quite as it should be.

 

"I started to realise after I put myself through a lot of hard work in June that there was something wrong with me. I didn't feel good at all," explained Arthur, who was told he must rest to overcome a blood disorder.

 

"It was a very difficult time. I'm just grateful that I've got such a good family and support round about me.

 

"I wanted to be active and get back in the ring because I really did find the buzz for boxing back in the summer."

 

Having made a full recovery, Arthur will move up another weight to head for Newcastle next month to fight on the undercard of Amir Khan's WBA light-welterweight title defence against Dmitry Salita.

 

"This fight is at light-welterweight, just to keep me busy and get me back in the ring," he told BBC Scotland.

 

"I was given advice by the hospital not to go on a diet because my blood levels and other hormone levels would drop again if I dieted too severely.

 

"I'll come in for this fight round about my natural boxing weight, which is about 10st.

 

"It's turned out to be a really difficult proposition but it's something I can look forward to.

 

"I have been boxing with some really good southpaws in training and I am going to be the first person to knock Nigel Wright out or stop him."

 

If Arthur can add further success to his record of 25 wins in 27 bouts, he hopes to be in line to fight for a title at lightweight.

 

He added: "My long-term goal when I started professional boxing, other than making my family secure, was to win world championships at three weight classes.

 

"I still believe I can do it. That's my main goal.

 

"If I get the chance to fight for the world lightweight title, which I believe I am ranked at number three, a couple more wins and I could be in the number one position.

 

"All you need is a chance sometimes."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8364470.stm