Boxing: Arthur vows to fight on but admits weight not Wright

Published on Monday 7 December 2009 08:43

ALEX ARTHUR briefly considered the prospect of calling time on his career before dismissing the idea in the space of 24-hours following his weekend defeat by Nigel Wright.

Although stung by his points loss to the 30-year-old light- welterweight from Crook in County Durham, Arthur believes he still has a future.

Consequently, he will endeavour to return to the ring as quickly as possible, hopefully early in the New Year, perhaps on the undercard of Coatbridge super-featherweight Ricky Burns' world title bout against Roman Martinez.

That is dependent on promoter Frank Warren managing to persuade the Puerto Rican to make a mandatory defence of his WBO crown in Scotland.

Arthur has been heartened by the comments of fellow fighters who urged him not to rush into a decision regarding his career plans. He also heard Wright confess that he had been rocked two or three times during their eight-round bout at Newcastle's Metro Arena on Saturday evening.

"Not many people have managed to do that," said the 31-year-old former world champion from Edinburgh.

"But I knew I had hurt Nigel when I saw him wobble and I thought I might eventually put him away. But all credit to Nigel, he deserved the decision although perhaps not by the margin of 78 points to 76.

"Normally I am really good against southpaws but not on this occasion. I felt really, really sluggish and the speed and sharpness just wasn't there.

"I don't know the precise reason why I could not get going. But light-welter is obviously not my weight.

"At super-featherweight I always had the advantage of size, even though I half killed myself making nine stone four pounds.

"I was able to throw opponents round the ring, but a near 12 pound jump after I weighed-in just short of 142 pounds was clearly too much.

"The fact, too, that I'd had only 94 seconds of ring action in the 16 months since I lost my WBO title to Nicky Cook was another significant factor.

"I had plenty of sparring but lacked ring sharpness and the rustiness took its toll. The extra gear I used to have wasn't there anymore.

"I felt there was a wee element missing and I suspect it was a mix of the bigger weight and a lengthy period of inactivity."

Arthur, who was comforted in defeat by his highly-supportive wife, Debbie, who left ringside in tears, was not helped either by the head-butt that opened up a nasty cut at the side of his left eye in the sixth round.

But he refused to criticise Wright, whom he has known for 12 years and who he regards as an alley. "It was a beauty," said Arthur. "But there was no malicious intent on Nigel's part. These things happen when you are fighting a southpaw and he is coming in on your right.

"But naturally the cut didn't help, although I doubt that it influenced the outcome, if I am honest."

Arthur's ambition to become a three-weight world champion may now be a dream too far, given that light-welterweight appears beyond him and the fact that he plans to campaign at lightweight in the foreseeable future.

But forget any talk of him hanging up his gloves, for the man is not for quitting, judging by his mood of defiance.

Arthur added: "I will definitely fight again because it would be wrong to go out on a loss after the career I have had.

"But I am going back to lightweight in the belief that there is still plenty left in the tank. I just hope this loss doesn't affect my No.3 lightweight ranking with the WBO."