Boxing: Hatton gives Arthur two May fights

FORMER WBO super-featherweight champion Alex Arthur has confirmed that he is set to sign a contract to become a Ricky Hatton promotions fighter, writes BRIAN DONALD.

And the Capital boxer – looking to rebuild his career in the lightweight division, said: "I've been told by Ricky Hatton that I will definitely have back-to-back fights in May under his management."

Arthur admits he badly needs the bouts but also hit back at claims he's past it at 31.

He said: "My answer to that – apart from winning my comeback bouts – is that of ten present world champions, no fewer than eight of them are more advanced into their thirties than I am.

"WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch is two years my senior, Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao is also older than me and, only recently, American light-heavyweight Glen Johnson, who is 41, outclassed an opponent around 20 years younger than himself."

Meanwhile, 80-year-old Edinburgh-born Sparta club legend Bobby Neill will make a rare visit to his hometown from his longtime London base to open a new boxing gym in Granton on Friday, 26 March.

Neill is an ex-British featherweight champion and was coach to British world champions such as middleweight Alan Minter.

The gym belongs to former Edinburgh pro super-middleweight Sean Heron, who said: "

Bobby, my manager and coach in the 1980s, has agreed to come up from his London home and formally open the new gym."