Arthur opts to fight on – in lightweight division

Published on Saturday 11 October 2008 12:54

ALEX ARTHUR, Edinburgh's former WBO superfeatherweight champion, officially announced yesterday that he will no longer fight at superfeatherweight, but box instead as a lightweight.

"I've had a chat with my manager Frank Warren earlier this week and we both agreed that I am better now fighting in the lightweight division (nine stone six pounds] so my days as a superfeatherweight are now over,'' he explained.

"I've come to realise that not only will I not have to fight the scales as I did before at superfeatherweight, but also, I'm a big guy for the lightweight division and I am confident that I can and will do well at lightweight from now on. Frank Warren and I are going to discuss plans for me making my debut at the new weight soon.''

Arthur's decision means not only is any talk of a return match with Dagenham's Nicky Cook for the WBO title that Arthur lost in September to the English boxer is dead but equally, there will certainly not now be a return fight between Arthur and Michael Gomez.

Speaking at Motherwell last night after outpointing Coventry's Baz Carey over six rounds, Gomez said: "I'm the one who would be granting Arthur a favour by fighting him at lightweight so why should I? I can fight Ricky Burns for his Commonwealth title instead so I don't need Arthur.''