Vakhtangashvili’s coach warns Arthur to prepare for shock

Arthur faces the Georgian lightweight on his self-promoted bill having beaten a total of seven Eastern European boxers since 2001.

However, Vakhtangashvilli’s manager Phillipe Fondu, feels things could be different this time around when the Edinburgh man answers the bell for his ten-round ring joust.

He said: “There are two reasons why I think the script at Meadowbank will be different this time around. Firstly, Arthur is no longer the success hungry youth he was when he fought the majority of my guys between 2001 and 2005. He’s a veteran, and I feel, ripe to be beaten by a younger man like Vakhtangashvilli. Secondly, all the pressure is on Arthur to win to keep his title hopes alive.”

However, Arthur himself, who outweighed his Georgian opponent by six pounds at yesterday’s Meadowbank weigh-in – scaling 10st 1lb – to the East European’s 9st 9lbs 10ozs, responded: “There is too much at stake for me to lose tonight.

“All the other Edinburgh guys on the Meadowbank bill, such as Gary McMillan and Kenny Anderson, will be going all out to give the fans a real show, and I have no intention of being the odd man out.”

However, there was bitter disappointment for lightweight Jason Hastie, after his Rotheram opponent John Baguley pulled out of their scrap at the 11th hour, prompting Hastie to say: “I feel really gutted and frustrated, but I’m hopeful a substitute opponent will be found for me in time for tonight’s show.”