Cook thinking big

Cook: bigger and better

Alex Arthur? Great guy, great champion, but he's been handed that title, so I'm looking at is as a vacant title. He's not the champion, I'm looking it as vacant - he's got to prove himself.

Nicky Cook
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ARTHUR v COOK
Live on Sky Box Office & HD
9pm, Saturday, September 6
Channel 743 & 752
Call 08442 410 888 to book
Click here for full details

Also see

• How to book the fight
• Arthur eyes greatness
• Khan ready to step right up
• Audley's still up for it

Nicky Cook says he is bigger and better than ever before - and better than Alex Arthur.

The Dagenham man challenges the WBO super-featherweight champion on Saturday night, live Sky Box Office.

It will be Cook's second tilt at a world title following a brave defeat at the hands of featherweight king Steve Luevano last July.

He was stopped in the 11th round of a gruelling contest and although he has only had one fight since then, he says it will be a different story when he tackles Arthur.

"I've come back from it, I've learned from it and I've learned one thing, that you can't mess about with the weight," he told Sky Sports.

"So now I've gone up to 9st 4lbs and I'll be even better.

"I've had the bonus of being in world class and he (Luevano) was a world-class fighter and I put in a world-class performance.

"I was struggling at featherweight to make 9st. I could get away with it at European level but at world level you can't."

Explosive

Like Arthur, Cook has done it all at domestic level.

The British, European and Commonwealth belts have been his for some time and the Luevano defeat is the only blemish on his 29-fight slate.

The only thing missing is the one thing Arthur has got - the world title. But Cook is refusing to recognise Saturday night's opponent as a bonafide champion.

"Everyone's dream is to be a world champion," he said.

"But Alex Arthur? Great guy, great champion, but he's been handed that title, so I'm looking at is as a vacant title. He's not the champion, I'm looking it as vacant - he's got to prove himself.

"It would mean everything to me. It would mean I could sit down and earn some proper money, support my family and buy my house!

"Whatever happens on September 6, it's going to be a good fight and an explosive fight and the best man will win - and that will be me."