Arthur loses international title

Although the WBA International belt was not on the line at Meadowbank, the sanctioning body has decided to declare it vacant and have also dropped Arthur from the top 15 in their new world rankings.

Arthur won the WBA International title in March this year with a sixth-round stoppage of South African Patrick Malinga at the Braehead Arena. The Scot does still hold the IBF and WBO Intercontinental titles, however, and may defend one of them when he makes his return to the ring early next year.

Meanwhile, Scott Dixon has been forced to pull out of his challenge for the British light-middleweight title after being laid low with a bout of flu.

The Hamilton boxer was due to face champion Jamie Moore from Salford at the King’s Hall in Belfast on 22 November, but will now have to move back down the queue for a shot at the Lonsdale Belt.

"It’s a big disappointment for Scott," said promoter Tommy Gilmour, "but there is no way he could go through with the fight.

"Hopefully, we will get him another crack at the title sometime next year."

Dixon, the former Commonwealth welterweight champion, is the only man to have beaten Moore, having stopped him in the fifth round of a WBU Intercontinental contest in Manchester two years ago.

Moore, who was desperate to avenge the loss, will now fight English champion Andrew Facey on the Belfast bill, which also features Kilmarnock-born Allan Foster’s showdown with Liverpool’s Tony Dodson for the vacant British super- middleweight title.

Dave Stewart, the unbeaten Ayr boxer now based in London, faces Eddie Nevins of Manchester tonight for the vacant British Masters lightweight title at the York Hall in Bethnal Green.

Olympic super heavyweight gold medallist Audley Harrison will appear on the Tokunbo Olajide fight card in Detroit, Michigan, on 12 December.

An announcement regarding Harrison’s opponent will be made shortly.