Boxing: McGuigan weighs in for Anderson's title rights

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 09:17

BARRY McGUIGAN has demanded that Kenny Anderson be granted a title fight against the winner of Friday's Paul Smith v Tony Dodson super- middleweight clash for the British belt.

McGuigan, manager of Edinburgh fighter Anderson, has contacted the British Board of Boxing Control secretary after Northampton's Paul David pulled out of their eliminator bout for the second time after breaking his nose while sparring.

Former WBA world featherweight champion McGuigan said: "As I've told the board secretary, that's not our fault. I have spent a considerable sum of money for Anderson's special training camp in Clitheroe over the last four months and Kenny has put in hard hours of self-sacrifice, training and sparring.

"So, in fairness to us, I've asked for the Board to sanction my proposal that Anderson should fight a straight title challenge against the winner of Smith and Dodson for the British super-middleweight title."

Anderson will now face a substitute opponent, Reading-based Gambian Patrick Mendy, in a non-title eight rounder at Glasgow's St Andrew's Sporting club on Monday.

Anderson said: "I was originally gutted at David pulling out again but I support Barry McGuigan's request 100 per cent. I've looked at Mendy's record and he has scored no knockouts or stoppages in his first eight bouts in contrast to my record where I stopped many of my previous opponents, so that makes me even more confident."

&#149 EDINBURGH'S former WBO super-featherweight champion Alex Arthur is close to joining with Hatton Promotions.

Arthur has been locked in extensive talks with Ricky Hatton following his split from Frank Warren and expects to join the Manchester fighter soon. "Our discussion were very productive," he said. "Ricky and I are singing from the same songsheet."