Arthur to move up to lightweight for return

Published on Tuesday 28 October 2008 21:57

ALEX Arthur has confirmed that he is stepping up to lightweight after finding it increasingly difficult to make the 9st, 4lbs super-featherweight limit.

The 30-year-old former WBO champion from Edinburgh also revealed yesterday that he is preparing for a return to the ring on 12 December, albeit his next bout is something of a mystery to him.

Arthur, who relinquished his world crown to Nicky Cook, on points, in Manchester last month, claims not to have been told the identity of his next opponent or the proposed venue.

"I have been given a likely date by my promoter, Frank Warren, but I am largely in the dark," said Arthur. "But 12 December is a Friday so it looks like I'll be appearing on a Sky Fight Night bill.

"I had hoped to get a rematch with Cook the previous week, but he didn't want to know, and if Cook is avoiding me, I don't have an incentive to remain at super-featherweight so I will be stepping up to lightweight.

"It's a relief in a sense to have taken the decision to move up a weight because I will still have to lose a stone even to make lightweight.

"So I will still be big for a lightweight, but at least the extra few pounds will allow me to eat more energy foods and take a break from training if I fancy it instead of constantly hammering myself to make super-featherweight."

Arthur, who has been receiving physiotherapy after twisting his back in training, also revealed that he became partially muscle-bound for a time.

He added: "When I fought Koba Gogoladze in July last year I was like a wee Adonis after putting on three kilos of extra muscle.

"But by the time I fought Steve Foster six months later I had put on too much muscle and that made it very difficult for me to get down to my fighting weight.

"Now I just want to remain active because my best performances have come when I have been fighting regularly and that has not been the case recently."

&#149 Former British middleweight champion Kevin Finnegan, 60, has been found dead at his home. Finnegan was discovered by police in west London after had not been seen for five days.

He was the younger brother of Chris Finnegan, the 1968 Olympic gold medal-winner and was best known for fighting Alan Minter three times and Marvin Hagler twice.