Arthur not impressed by Mitchell's credentials

Published on Thursday 22 May 2008 10:27

ALEX ARTHUR was today at odds with his manager, saying he wants to defend his world title against a bigger name than England's Kevin Mitchell, the current British super-featherweight title holder.

Frank Warren has announced he is looking to line up Mitchell as Arthur's first challenger for his WBO world super-featherweight belt.

But Mitchell's name is hardly one to set pulses racing for such a prestigious bout and Arthur said: "I would want to see Mitchell prove his world-class credentials. Right now, I'm looking to make my first defence against someone with stronger world credentials than Kevin Mitchell."

Arthur believes Mitchell should test himself at European level.

He added: "I would want to see Mitchell prove his world-class credentials by beating my old Russian opponent, Sergey Gulyakevich who was one of the toughest guys that I ever fought."

Meanwhile, Kenny Anderson, Edinburgh's Commonwealth gold-medal winning super-middleweight, has been lined up for eight-round fights in Glasgow and London to get him ready for a crack at the British title.

Anderson will fight at Glasgow's SECC on June 12 and then at the O2 Arena in London on July 12 in preparation for a potential ten-round bout with Celtic Champion Steve McGuire, from Fife.

If successful, Anderson believes he would then be in prime shape to make the step up for a British title challenge.

Anderson said: "I'd fight McGuire no problem but not before I get a couple of eight rounders under my belt first."