Arthur eyes greatness

Arthur: world champion

Here's hoping in the coming year or so, Alex Arthur will be spoken about along the same lines as those other guys. I own belts, I've got belts in my living room that Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton haven't got.

Alex Arthur
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ARTHUR v COOK
Live on Sky Box Office & HD
9pm, Saturday, September 6
Channel 743 & 752
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Alex Arthur says he has waited too long to give up his world title at the first time of asking.

The Scot makes the first defence of his WBO super-featherweight title against Nicky Cook at the MEN Arena on Saturday, live on Sky Box Office.

He was awarded the title without throwing the punch when former champion Joan Guzman pulled out of a scheduled clash and was forced to vacate the title to interim champion Arthur.

And after eight years and 27 fights as a professional, the 30-year-old is adamant he is not about to throw all his hard work away against Cook.

"It's been a long road," he told Sky Sports.

"I've had my ups and downs and I've had to be patient and I've had to endure patiently. I've had to work very, very hard to get where I am."

Arthur was touted as one of British boxing's brightest prospects but his rise was brought to a juddering halt in 2003 when he was KO'd by Michael Gomez.

Since then he has won 19 on the bounce and has now set his sights on joining the likes of Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe in British boxing folklore.

Opportunity

"I came back, won British, Commonwealth, European and International titles before the opportunity to fight for a version of the world title," he said.

"Here's hoping in the coming year or so, Alex Arthur will be spoken about along the same lines as those other guys. I own belts, I've got belts in my living room that (Joe) Calzaghe and (Ricky) Hatton haven't got.

"I've got British titles for keeps, European titles they haven't won. They've probably got more money in the bank than me, but it's the belts people remember."

Cook is a featherweight by trade and has lost his previous world title challenge to Steve Luevano down at 126lbs.

He has warmed up for this by moving up to stop Kirkor Kirkorov in two in February but Arthur believes size will matter when that first bell sounds on Saturday night.

"It will certainly be a very exciting contest," he said.

"I think neither of us is going to give any ground, I'm the big fish they want to fry, so he's going to come at me - they're all going to come at me. I expect that.

"I am one of the biggest super-featherweights out there. Let's just see if Nicky can handle it up there with a big lad."