Alex Arthur has backed Ricky Burns to win his old world title. Burns challenges Roman Martinez for the WBO super-featherweight crown that Arthur once held on September 4 at Kelvin Hall, Glasgow. And Arthur believes his close friend has what it takes to defeat the Puerto Rican. The 32-year-old knows first hand the threat that Burns poses, having been taken to points by the Coatbridge star in a European title defence four years ago. "I've been sparring with Ricky, and he's a great fighter," said Arthur. "I believe he can bring the belt back to Scotland. "It will be a hard night, but if he sticks to his game-plan he is good enough to beat Martinez. "People ask me if I am jealous, but that word is not even in my vocabulary. Ricky is striving to achieve what I have achieved, and I hope that he does it. "We have an unbelievable breadth of talent in Scotland. There are some brilliant fighters here, some really fantastic boxers, I think sometimes we just don't get the exposure we deserve." Last Updated ( Friday, 27 August 2010 14:31 ) http://www.frankwarren.tv/boxing/index.php/latest-news/news-stories/596-arthur-backs-burns-bid.html
That's because Ricky leads the life of a pro fighter in and out of the ring and doesn't explode up to stupid weights when not in training.Either way Ricky would beat Alex AT lightweight as well.Scott Harison v Alex Arthur 2011?
ALEX ARTHUR has vowed to earn himself a glowing report tomorrow night at the Kelvin Hall - and if that means blotting the copybook of Peter McDonagh, so be it. The Irishman has never been knocked out in more than 30 fights but the Capital's former world champion, keen to get his career back on track, has been in fine form in sparring. "My aim is to make a dramatic statement to Scottish fight fans that AlADVERTISEMENT ex Arthur - the old Alex Arthur who used to thrill everyone at ringside - is back with a bang. "What better way to do that than knock out the guy who stopped my first pro ring conqueror Michael Gomez inside the distance?'' said Arthur whose lightweight division clash will feature on the undercard of the Ricky Burns v Roman Martinez WBO superfeatherweight world title bout. "I've been sparring loads with two great fighters - Glasgow's Willie Limond and former British featherweight champion Paul Appleby - and I've never been sharper. "I guarantee that the shadow Alex Arthur who turned up when I was beaten by Nigel Wright will definitely not be answering the bell on Saturday.'' ''I know that there are those out there who say 'Arthur is past it at 32' but all they do is fire me up even more to not only beat McDonagh but eventually fight again for a world lightweight title .'' Arthur's ring coach, Terry McCormack, agreed with his fighter's sense of confidence. "Alex Arthur has looked superb in sparring sessions at the Lochend gym. "He has regained the hunger and has the tools to turn that hunger into victory against McDonagh.'' One of those vital sparring partners, Paul Appleby, said: "I've sparred with Alex Arthur as far back as before when he beat Koba Gogaladze (for the interim WBO superfeatherweight title in Cardiff in 2007) and Arthur is really back to that kind of sharpness that he displayed back then - he's moving well and hitting really hard.'' Meanwhile, if former British nine-stone champion Appleby may have been disappointed that his scheduled eight-rounder on tomorrow's Glasgow fight bill against Bulgarian Yordan Vasilev has been cut to a six rounder but not at the reason for that cut, as McCormack explained. "The problem is that most six and eight-round boxers want no part of an ex-champion like Appleby - his mangement team found it hard to match him for that reason so Paul's just going to go out a do a number on the guy who has never won in seven bouts in the UK and Ireland.'' Also, Appleby stressed: "This may be a non-title fight six-rounder but I aim to make a statement that I am a legitimate contender for Ricky Burns' Commonwealth title should Burns fail to beat Martinez. http://sport.scotsman.com/boxing/Boxing-Arthur-AOK-for-Kelvin.6511310.jp
