Switched-on Arthur ready for Capital boxing feast

Edinburgh's newest pro boxing promoter, Alex Arthur, has been handed a boost ahead of his first major boxing show on August 27.

The event, which will feature six Capital fighters - including Arthur himself - taking on opponents at Meadowbank, will see revenue boosted by television coverage on Sky.

And with tickets sales for the show reportedly going well, Arthur expressed his delight, saying: "I've received confirmation that the show will attract TV coverage, which will provide a vital boost to revenue. Tickets sales have been very good indeed with even the undercard boxers like middleweight John McCallum selling large numbers to his family and fans and that goes for every other Edinburgh boxer on the bill.''

While Arthur will take on Georgian boxer Aleksander Vaktangashvili, super-middleweight Kenny Anderson has good reason to impress against Sheffield's Lee Duncan over eight rounds.

The 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner is keen on a rematch with British champion George Groves after giving the Londoner a real fright in their Commonwealth title fight last November.

He said: "I honestly believe a Groves v Anderson rematch is firmly on the radar because Groves and his team know it would go down well at the box office.''

"In the meantime, I aim to put on a show at Meadowbank for the local fans who have bought tickets for Alex Arthur's show.''

At welterweight, Edinburgh southpaw and British Masters champion Gary McMillan has convinced his fellow Edinburgh southpaw Craig McEwan that he stands a great chance of beating former British 10st 7lb champion Kevin McIntyre of Paisley.

Said McEwan: "I grabbed the chance to spar five rounds earlier this week with McMillan and I was surprised by the ferocity of his body shots. McIntyre is a tough boy but he could find real problems with McMillan.'' Both McMillan and McIntyre have an added incentive for victory at Meadowbank, according to Alex Arthur's matchmaker Grant Jeans, who revealed: "We have applied to the board of control to have this bout declared an eliminator for the British welterweight title.''

Gilmerton pair, lightweight Jason Hastie and light-middleweight Gary Young, will both also box on the August 27 bill, with Hastie clashing with Rotherham's John Baguley while no opponent has yet been identified for Young.

Unbeaten Edinburgh middleweight John McCallum boxes Waddington's Ryan Clark over six rounds.