Arthur weighing up his prospects of becoming world champion in three divisions

Published on Saturday 28 November 2009 19:57

WHEN Alex Arthur first started out in the professional ranks, he was chirpy and ambitious, stating early in his career that he would like to be the first Scot to win world titles at three weights.

The former world super-featherweight champion is a third of the way there, and on Saturday on the undercard at Newcastle we will see whether he has the physicality – he has always had the boxing skill – to win at a higher weight.

For Arthur is stepping up two weights to the light-welterweight division to take on his good friend, the former English champion at the weight, Nigel Wright.

"I travelled the world with Nigel as an amateur and we're good mates," said Arthur, "but he'll not be my pal next Saturday.

"He's a good fighter, and this will be a real test, but if I can't beat him then I won't be winning a world title again."

The match has been made at 10st 2lbs, a full 12lbs up from Arthur's original super-featherweight level, but the Edinburgh man was always able to get his weight down relatively easily until losing his WBO title to Nick Cook in Manchester last year.

It was the struggle to make the 9st 4lbs limit which turned Arthur off his chosen sport: "I fell out of love with boxing after I won the belt. I am back to normal, however, and I no longer have to do ridiculous things to make the weight. This fight has got my juices going. On Saturday I'll be two weights up from my world superfeatherweight championship, but I've seen the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales go up the weights and win world titles, and they are tiny compared to me."

Arthur is already ranked No.3 in the world at lightweight by the WBO, and there are lucrative all-British fights to be made in both that division and at light-welterweight, with Kevin Mitchell in the former and Amir Khan in the latter – "I'll back down at lightweight for next year, and then who knows?" said Arthur.

To be a three-weight winner, he firstly has to beat Wright. Arthur should have too much skill, and if he can keep his chin out of range, he will win late on.