Double delight for home fans as Arthur and Appleby win

Published on Saturday 4 September 2010 18:05

Two Scots made successful comebacks on the undercard of the world title bill at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow last night.

Former world super-featherweight champion Alex Arthur defeated the difficult Peter McDonagh on points in an eight-round lightweight bout while former British featherweight champion Paul Appleby destroyed the hapless Bulgarian Yordon Vasilev inside four minutes of a one-sided contest at super-featherweight.

A packed crowd stood to cheer and applaud multiple former champion Arthur as he entered the ring for only the third time in two years. In his last fight, Arthur stepped up to light-welterweight and lost to Nigel Wright in Newcastle, but back at lightweight he looked fit.

There were signs of ring rust from the start, however, and early punches missed their mark. Arthur was always on top, possessing just too much ringcraft for a nevertheless tough and durable opponent who has made other boxers look ordinary in the past.

Arthur wobbled only once, but by contrast McDonagh looked in trouble several times. Referee Victor Loughlin scored it 79-74, meaning he only gave McDonagh one round.

As usual, Arthur was honest in his self-appraisal: "I was terribly, terribly ring rusty tonight, really bad. I was really good in sparring - ask Willie Limond and Paul Appleby. We were having fantastic spars and I was as sharp as a razor, but tonight it wasn't exactly there - gym fighting and ring fighting are two different things.

"I have found my right weight and I'm going for the world title. I'm the best fighter in this country, and I'm back."

Paul Appleby simply blitzed the diminutive Vasilev. Determined to make an impact at his new weight, he attacked the Bulgarian from the start.

A stunning left hook to the body put Vasilev down midway through the first round, and though a second left look dubiously low, it had the same result, the two standing counts barely giving the Bulgarian a chance to recover.

Appleby gave his opponent no respite and inside the first minute of the second round, the South Queensferry man launched a ferocious onslaught which trapped Vasilev against the ropes. As punch after punch found its target, referee Kenny Pringle stepped in to end the fight, and only Vasilev protested at the decision - significantly, his corner didn't.

A great start to the new weight division for Appleby, and new manager Frank Warren can surely guide him back to a British title at least.