Revitalised Alex Arthur tops his own bill

Published on Thursday 4 August 2011 13:20

NO SCOTTISH boxer in recent history has talked as good a fight as Alex Arthur of Edinburgh, the 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medallist who has mostly enjoyed a stellar career since he turned professional.

The talkative former world super-featherweight champion has always been a promoter's dream, and as it turned out, the man who called himself Amazing always had the dream of being a promoter. Now Amazing Alex Arthur Promotions is a reality, with the bill announced yesterday for the first of what he hopes will be many nights of professional boxing in Edinburgh.

Six of the capital's best fighters will feature on the evening card at Meadowbank Sports Centre on Saturday, 27 August, with a minimum ticket price of 25 representing very good value for what should be an entertaining evening.

"We have the crme de la crme of Edinburgh boxers," said Arthur, in fine jovial form, "and of course my remarkable record speaks for itself!"

Arthur himself will go into the ring against Aleksander Vakhtangashvili from Georgia in a lightweight contest which should be a major step back to the top for the 33-year-old who has reunited with his original professional trainer, Peter Harrison, father of former world champion Scott.

"I feel I am back where I started with the best trainer I have ever worked with," said Arthur. "I am really happy, and I'm doing everything I'm told."

For his part Harrison is confident that Arthur can reach the top again. He said: "I feel Alex just needs a couple of fights and then his promoter Frank Warren will try and get him a world title fight.

"Alex has been reasonably successful but he has still not showed everybody what he can do. I am ambitious, I want to train world champions, and I think Alex can be in the big time again."

The rest of the card contains what should be some real crowd-pleasers, with Kenny Anderson, the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, facing Sheffield's Lee Duncan at super-middleweight.

Anderson is looking to boost his chances of a rematch against British and Commonwealth champion George Groves, who beat a not-fully-prepared Anderson in Manchester last November before going on to beat James De Gale. "I wanted things to be moving in my direction rather than people continuously looking at what happened with Groves," said Anderson. "I made it clear after the fight that I wanted a rematch and they made a gentleman's agreement which they didn't keep.

"But I am happy where I am at the moment and delighted to be fighting in Edinburgh.I was a top amateur and had six knockouts in my first six pro fights, but I still had to beg for fights and promoters treated me like dirt, so it's good that we are getting our own bouts here in Scotland."

In what could be the fight of the night, Gary McMillan will be the home town hope against Kevin McIntyre of Paisley in an all-Scottish contest which may yet be sanctioned as an eliminator for the British welterweight championship.

Like McMillan, Gary Young is one of many products of the Gilmerton boxing club in South Edinburgh and he will make his comeback after a year out against an opponent to be named later. Another Gilmerton lad is Jason Hastie who faces a really tough bout against Central Area lightweight champion Joe Baguley from Rotherham.

Young John McCallum completes the bill with what should be a learning contest against Waddington's Ryan Clark.

• Tickets (25 and 35) are available by calling 07855 703216 or the Meadowbank box office on 0131 661 5351, or by calling in person at the Meadowbank reception desk.