nicky cook

His problem is he didn't win a world title against a world class opponent. He won a world title by beating a European champion, and then they squared off for a vacant title because of their promotional connections.

That is always leaving you open to being exposed because eventually the mandatories are going to throw up a decent fighter.

 

Nicky got lucky. or as I would say, he was helped out by his own, so you cant even call it luck.
I have done this debate to death though, so I will just leave it at that.

 

Dunky!! it was a fair win but as TFFP says it was a Euro level fight in reality.

 

Nicky was in the right place at the right time and against Martinez he was shown to be a transitional champion. He just doesn't have what it takes at world class level.

 

I think Martinez looked a pretty mundane fighter himself so that tells you a lot about Nicky Cook's abilities at the world level, and certainly his chin. That guy was hardly punching like Manny Pac and Cook was over like a sack of potatoes.

It's no coincidence they are trying to get Kev Mitchell in on that action.

 

Gaz, that fight will always leave a bitter taste in my mouth. IMO, all Nicky Cook did was run & survive. Arthur fought like an idiot though, he had Cook going time & time again, but decided to fanny around mugging for the cameras, & instead of finishing Cook, Arthur decided to dance around thinking he was going to get a decision in your neck of the woodsatsch

Arthur did enough to win IMO, but he made the mistake of taking his foot off the gas & leaving it to the judges like an idiot, & as the old saying goes 'a fool & their WBO world title are easily parted'
Thats why the fight still rankles to this day, cos IMO an L to Nicky Cook is pretty humiliating. & Arthur has that L on his record now, fair or not.

Im still thinking though that Arthur still has a big win left in him now that hes moved up, its too early to write him off completely. As for Cook, stick fork in him. Like Gomez he can retire on the Arthur win.

 

Cook always looks frail at World Level physically and mentally.

Steve Luevano was made to look like a sublime boxer with unstoppable power. Don't care about being weight drained that performance was a man out of depth at even international level.

 

Dunky I'm a big fan of Arthur and was strongly cheering him in the fight with Cook(and tearing my hair out with how he was fighting), but he clearly lost that fight imo. Sometime's I'm afraid Dunk Scottish bias can sway you a bit. Like Barry Morrison's losses to Mutu(especially) and Barnes were more than fair for me. Compared to genuine robberies against Scottish fighters such as John Simpson v Dazzo Williams or Jamie Coyle V Michael Lomax

Anyway the Cook fight combined with the Stephen Foster Jnr fight has me of the opinion that Arthur was either extremely drained at the weight(and we all know he was at least pretty tight at it) or else he is shot, because that was not the same man who beat Gulyakevich and Gogoladze, who are imo better fighters than Cook.

I really hope it is just a weight issue and Arthur is revigorated at Lightweight. With a weak European champion at the weight there is opportunities there for Arthur if he can regain his old form, and a fight with Murray would be a ******* aswell.

 

look bigears, I know I can be biased here. Tell me a man who isnt here & I will call him a liar.
However, that night left a sour taste in my mouth. Biased commentary, biased officials, & a stupid Arthur playing right into their hands. Cook was seen as the more marketable fighter, & Cook got the helping hand from everyone involved. You tell me, can you remember anything Cook did in that fight that deserved walking away with a UD win? All he done was run. I cnt remember Cook landing a hurtful shot on Alex the whole fight. Is that enough to claim a win? Only in your hometown.

As for Alex fighting Murray? I would like that very much. Doubt Murray would have the bottle to fight him though, & lets face it, Arthur should be still aiming higher. Just cos he got robbed, doesnt mean he should lower his sights.

 

Cook consistently landed light punches, and did move away quite a lot. Which was a lot better than what Arthur was doing, either not throwing, or not landing. Arthur was so frustrating in that fight because he just wouldn't ****ing do anything and gave away rounds stupidly. Cook didn't do much to get his UD, but Arthur put up no argument to make a case for it not going to Cook, he just refused to do anything.

Lightweight is a lot tougher than Super-Featherweight, I think it would be dangerous for Artur to jump in at the equivalent level he was fighting at, at Super-Featherweight. Murray is European level at Lightweight so a fight against him or Mezaache after this tune up fight would be a good idea, or fight Murray if Arthur can beat Mezaache. After that he can go and test the waters at World level.

Arthur going in against a World Class, or fringe World Class Lightweight before establishing himself again would be crazy considering the Cook loss.

 

I would disagree that Murray is euro level, the guy is so easy to outbox its unreal. Murrays been the benefactor of a couple of very dodgy decisions, even the untested aberdonian McAllister was boxing the ears off Murray until he gassed out!
Alex Arthur will be better at lightweight, its a given. Murray is an accident waiting to happen, & being honest I hope Arthurs fists will be the cause of this 'accident'

 

The European Lightweight scene is quite poor and as such Murray has no problem being near the top of the pile of it. I do feel Murray is pretty one dimensional and can be outboxed, the Arthur that beat Gulyakevich and Gogoladze would win easily, the Arthur that fought Foster and Cook would get knocked out against Murray. It'd be an interesting fight.

However with Athur being a Frank Warren fighter I think it's more likely that Arthur is matched for the Commonwealth or WBU title, which would bring about an all Scottish clash with either Willie Limond or Lee McAllister(assuming both win their next fights). A Limond v Arthur rematch would actually be pretty interesting at the moment.

 

Limond aint interested in tough fights anymore, he just wants to win that WBU belt & defend against nobodies, fleecing the fans & boosting his bank balance before he retires. As for Arthur, he wont mess around fighting the Lee Mcallisters of this world.
I see where you are coming from Bigears, but Arthur still has bigger fish to fry, & he wont go back to fighting at this level. he will take a warm up, & then hes going to go for glory again.

 

Who are they expecting to put AA in with? He's just not a world class fighter, damn, not in this weight class. The best fighters would whoop him royally.

Arthur is a European class fighter, fringe world class on his best day. Not much different to a Jennings if you put him in with that class of fighter.