Alex Arthur receives MBE from Prince Charles

Published on 26/01/2013 13:47

BOXING legend Alex Arthur celebrated with a pint after collecting his MBE for services to boxing from Prince Charles.

The 34-year-old, who has won 31 of his 34 professional bouts, picked up the prestigious award at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

He tweeted his 10,000 followers just after the ceremony: “Just out the palace! Really enjoyed the investiture thanks for all the support guys going for a pint now.”

He later added: “Where do I party round London SW1 guys? Lol.”

He received news of the honour last June and told the Evening News: “If you look at the list of people who have them it’s amazing. For me to be considered, it’s just great.

“I’ve been told that I was nominated by so many people, but I really am surprised, I’m just a boxer from Scotland. Obviously I’m really happy to have received this award.”

The Southside fighter has also revealed that he plans to retire from the sport in June when he turns 35 and concentrate on his new company, Alex Arthur Promotions.

He said: “I have always been so driven to achieve my goals in whatever I do. My wife, Debbie, and I started a family really young and I also had the ambition that I wanted to provide a big future for them. I feel I have achieved that.”

Arthur’s rise through the amateur ranks culminated in securing gold in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, a triumph he still regards as his finest moment in the ring despite becoming a British, Commonwealth, European and world super-featherweight champion after turning to the professional game in 2000.

A born-again Christian, the fighter has been a regular speaker in local schools in recent years and a tireless charity fundraiser.

In 2011, he established AAA Promotions, which has staged a number of fights at Meadowbank. Alex and wife Debbie have three boys – Alex, 11, Liston, eight, and Machlan, five.