Boxing: Dad's illness puts Arthur's plans on hold

Alex Arthur's plans to fight again in March 2011 have been put on hold due to his father's illness.

Alex Arthur senior, 53, is suffering a combination of pneumonia, pleurisy and swine flu at Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary and his boxer son, the former WBO European and British super-featherweight champion, confirmed: "I've cancelled all my training plans for my next scheduled fight in March because this is a deeply worrying time for my mother, Coreen, and all the family as my Dad desperately battles a combination of three respiratory illnesses.

"Under these circumstances, I simply couldn't concentrate on training or anything to do with the ring while my Dad is on the critical list.

"Although my Dad was opposed me taking up boxing at first, he later became - with my Mum - my most loyal ringside fan.

"He worked tirelessly to sell tickets for my bouts and arrange ringside supporters buses.

"I've put all thoughts of boxing firmly on the back burner. Being a champion is fine but family always comes first comes with me so I won't being going back to the Lochend gym until, hopefully, my Dad makes a full recovery.''