Cook's the opponent for Arthur title defence

Published on Monday 7 July 2008 23:17

ALEX Arthur will defend his WBO super-featherweight title against Essex fighter Nicky Cook at the Manchester Evening News Arena on 6 September.

The 30-year-old Scot will be making the second defence of his title, although this will be his first bout since being installed as the full champion. Arthur, who has won 26 of his 27 fights with 19 knock-outs, initially won the interim title against Koba Gogoladze last July and made one defence against Stephen Foster Junior last December.

Cook was the fighter Scott Harrison had been due to defend his WBO featherweight title against in December 2006, only for the troubled Cambuslang fighter to fail to show for the weigh-in then withdraw from the scheduled bout. He has not fought since, while Cook lost to Steven Luevano last year and has now stepped up one weight division.

Headlining the bill in Manchester will be Amir Khan, who defends his Commonwealth lightweight belt against an opponent to be announced later this week.

Promoter Frank Warren said yesterday: "I think it's a tough fight for Alex and I think it's a good fight for the fans.

"If Alex is going to get where we want him to be, these are the types of guys he's got to beat and in style. It will be a real fans' fight and he's got to be at the top of his game. He's going off to Cyprus tomorrow where he'll be trained by Wayne McCullough, which is good for him."

Khan, meanwhile, has agreed a new deal with Warren – the details of which have not been disclosed – as he bids to extend his run to 19 straight victories since turning professional.

The issue of who will train him remains undecided but continuing his association with Warren is a vote of confidence for his promoter – even if Khan looks certain to have to wait until next year for a world title shot.