Boxing: Arthur fired up and looking mean for Benbiou fight

Published on Tuesday 16 June 2009 09:49

FORMER WBO superfeatherweight champion Alex Arthur is "fired up and raring to go'' for his comeback lightweight division fight against 34-year-old Algerian Mohammed Benbiou at Glasgow's Bellahouston Leisure Centre on Friday night.

Arthur appears to be in tip-top condition for the bout and has been in ferocious form during sparring sessions with former British featherweight champion Paul Appleby.

The Capital boxer said: "Paul (Appleby] has sparred with me before previous fights and has said he can't recall me moving so fast or hitting harder than I have been during our recent sparring sessions at the Lochend gym.

"Now that I don't have to torture myself to make weight like I did against Howard Foster in December 2007 and Nicky Cook in September 2008 I feel like I used to when I was knocking over superfeatherweights like ninepins.

"Benbiou will come to fight as he doesn't know any other way and that will suit me as guys like Cook, who made me come forward, aren't my favourite kind of opponent. I'll be looking to stop Benbiou in style as I want to capitalise on my high rating with the World Boxing Organisation and hopefully be fast-tracked towards a world title fight, so only a really good performance will do.

"I don't feel any pressure on me because I have no weight-making issues to undermine my preparations as I had at superfeatherweight therefore I am hyper fit and raring to go.''

Arthur's coach and chief cornerman, Terry McCormack, commented: "I have worked with Alex on and off for seven years and I've never honestly seen him so fired up and so fit or punching so hard in sparring sessions as recently.

"I feel kind of sorry for Benbiou as Alex is going to be unloading a lot of past frustrations via his punches on this guy.''

And southpaw welterweight Gary McMillan, who will fight Lanarkshire's Paddy Pollok on the Bellahouston show undercard, claimed: "I've sparred with Alex Arthur many times before but I can't recall him being so ferocious in sparring – he clearly feels that he has something to prove at lightweight.''

All the ringside seats for Friday's show have been sold but there are some other tickets still available by contacting 0131-556 0669.